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Sensory evaluation by consumers allows validation of a solution for the food industry to overcome boar taint and market entire male pork with high levels of boar taint considered "unfit for human consumption". One possible technological strategy for improvement is the injection marination of entire male pork to help minimise the impact of boar taint and improve its marketability. The responses of 120 regular pork consumers, to entire males with high levels of boar taint and castrated pork, both injection-marinated, were evaluated. The results showed a similar response between entire and castrated male pork regardless of sex, and the detection of unpleasant odours and flavours (as farm/animal), thus offering a new alternative to the pork sector to mask the boar taint and revalue this pork. However, it was observed that consumer information on castration and animal welfare of entire male pork is scarce, and it is important to increase their knowledge so that they can place a value on this technological strategy with entire male pork and thus increase their purchase intention., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aim: When considered separately, long-term immediate-release niacin and fatty meals enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) decrease postprandial triglycerides, but their effects on postprandial inflammation, which is common in individuals with metabolic syndrome, are less known. Moreover, successful combination is lacking and its impact on acute disorders of the innate immune cells in the metabolic syndrome remains unclear. Here, we aimed to establish the effects from combination with niacin of different fats [butter, enriched in saturated fatty acids (SFA), olive oil, enriched in MUFA, and olive oil supplemented with eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids] on plasma inflammatory markers and circulating monocyte subsets, activation and priming at the postprandial period in individuals with metabolic syndrome., Methods: A random-order within-subject crossover experiment was performed, in which 16 individuals with metabolic syndrome and 16 age-matched healthy volunteers took 2 g immediate-release niacin together with the corresponding fatty meal or a meal with no fat as control. In total, 128 postprandial curves were analysed. We sampled hourly over 6 h for plasma concentrations of soluble inflammatory markers and triglycerides. Circulating monocyte subsets (CD14/CD16 balance), activation (CCL2/CCR2 axis) and priming (M1/M2-like phenotype) at the time of postprandial hypertriglyceridemic peak were also addressed., Results: Dietary SFA (combined with niacin) promote postprandial excursions of circulating IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CD14/CCR2-rich monocytes with a pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype, particularly in individuals with metabolic syndrome. In contrast, dietary MUFA (combined with niacin) postprandially increased circulating CD16-rich monocytes with an anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype. Omega-3 PUFA did not add to the effects of MUFA., Conclusion: The co-administration of a single-dose of immediate-release niacin with a fatty meal rich in MUFA, in contrast to SFA, suppresses postprandial inflammation at the levels of both secretory profile and monocyte response in individuals with metabolic syndrome. These findings highlight a potential role of combining niacin and dietary MUFA for the homeostatic control of inflammation and the innate immune system, identifying a new search direction for the management of disorders associated with the metabolic syndrome., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Pork production has undergone a shift towards the rearing of entire male pigs, however, its meat might carry with the presence of boar taint and it would be considered "unfit for human consumption". To offer a new alternative to the pork sector tailored to the needs of consumers, a viable option would be the use of edible spiced gelatin films to help minimize boar taint and improve its marketability. The responses of 120 regular meat consumers to entire pork with high levels of boar taint and castrated pork free of boar taint, both coated with spiced gelatin films were evaluated. They showed a similar response between entire and castrated male pork coated with spiced films, regardless of whether consumers usually detected unpleasant odours (as farm/animal) when consuming pork or not. Therefore, the new spiced films offer a new range of products to consumers as they contribute to the improvement of the sensory quality of entire male pork, especially among consumers who tend to buy new products., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background Aims: To describe and analyze whether a hub-and-spoke organizational model could efficiently provide access to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy within a network of academic hospitals and address the growing demands of this complex and specialized activity., Methods: The authors performed a retrospective evaluation of activity within the Catalan Blood and Tissue Bank network, which was established for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to serve six CAR T-cell programs in academic hospitals of the Catalan Health Service. Procedures at six hospitals were followed from 2016 to 2021. Collection shipments of starting materials, CAR T-cell returns for storage and infusions for either clinical trials or commercial use were evaluated., Results: A total of 348 leukocytapheresis procedures were performed, 39% of which were delivered fresh and 61% of which were cryopreserved. The network was linked to seven advanced therapy medicinal product manufacturers. After production, 313 CAR T-cell products were shipped back to the central cryogenic medicine warehouse located in the hub. Of the units received, 90% were eventually administered to patients. A total of 281 patients were treated during this period, 45% in clinical trials and the rest with commercially available CAR T-cell therapies., Conclusions: A hub-and-spoke organizational model based on an existing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program is efficient in incorporating CAR T-cell therapy into a public health hospital network. Rapid access and support of growing activity enabled 281 patients to receive CAR T cells during the study period., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest JF and SQ have served on an advisory board for Novartis., (Copyright © 2022 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this multicentric study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a telediagnosis service for oral mucosal disorders., Study Design: This study included 100 patients seen at the oral medicine outpatient clinic of 3 Brazilian Dental Schools (University of Campinas, Federal University of Pernambuco, and Federal University of Santa Catrina) from March 2019 to October 2019. In addition to the face-to-face assistance provided by graduate students and the final diagnosis validated by the professors of these institutions, a remote evaluation was requested for these patients through the EstomatoNet/TelessaúdeRS platform., Results: The sensitivity and specificity of telediagnosis were compared with those of the face-to-face approach and found to be 100% and 97.4%, respectively. The concordance between the examiners was 95%, and case management was relatively simple in approximately 60% of cases., Conclusions: Based on the results, telediagnosis for oral diseases can be considered a reliable method, representing a promising alternative for the clinical support of health professionals, particularly in remote locations., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the antibiofilm effects of a triple antibiotic solution (TAS); a double antibiotic solution (DAS); and 5%, 2.5%, and 1.25% diclofenac solutions (DCSs) against Enteroccocus faecalis biofilm., Methods: Eighty-four sterile radicular dentin blocks were used as biofilm substrate for 3 weeks. The study groups were as follows: (1) 1 mg/mL TAS (minocycline, metronidazole, and ciprofloxacin), (2) 1 mg/mL DAS (metronidazole and ciprofloxacin), (3) 5% DCS, (4) 2.5% DCS, (5) 1.25% DCS, and (6) 0.9% saline solution. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by bacterial count determinations and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The contact time for the antimicrobial tests was 5 minutes. Bacterial counts were expressed as the reduction percentage of colony-forming units; for the confocal laser scanning microscopic evaluation, the log 10 total biovolume and percentage of green population (live cells) were calculated., Results: The colony-forming unit reduction percentage ranged between 62.98 and 98.62, respectively, for TAS and 5% DCS. The DCS showed a concentration-dependent effect.For the confocal laser scanning microscopy, the log 10 total biovolume in all groups was very similar and showed a scarce (1.39-1.02) but significant reduction with respect to the control; 5% and 2.5% DCSs gave the lowest viable cell percentage. The TAS and DAS groups showed intermediate values without significant differences between them., Conclusions: DCSs at 5% and 2.5% have greater antimicrobial effects than TAS and DAS and may be considered a valid alternative for controlling the infection of teeth with apical periodontitis., (Copyright © 2021 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women, according to Global Cancer Observatory. This fact forces scientists to continue in the search for effective treatments against this aggressive type of cancer. Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to other organs, most often the bones, lungs, and liver. Breast cancer is normally associated with estrogen and progestogen levels and can be hormone or non-hormone dependent. In current experiments herein reported, some hydroxyimino spirostan derivatives showed great potential against MCF-7 breast cancer, a Luminal-A cancer. On the other hand, a set of synthesized 6-hydroxyimino-22-oxocholestane compounds had excellent activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. The synthesis of hydroxyamino derivatives from spirostan and 22-oxocholestane compounds was improved. The hydroxyimino compounds enhanced the bioactivity when compared with their parent carbonyl skeletons., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The production of entire male pigs is an alternative to surgical castration. However, boar taint may be present in the meat of entire male animals. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the acceptability and sensory properties of chorizo, elaborated under three different levels of androstenone [castrated 0-0.3 mg / kg, medium 0.4-0.9 mg / kg and high 1-2.75 mg / kg] and two masking strategies [rosemary, and rosemary plus smoking] using a Check-All-That-Apply questionnaire. The results showed that, of the strategies employed, the rosemary plus smoked chorizo was the most effective masking strategy to reduce the boar taint in chorizos with high androstenone level (3.7% selection rate for animal flavour), while the closest to the ideal product, according to consumers' description, was high androstenone level plus rosemary chorizo., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Carcass and meat quality parameters of two different weights of pigs from the rustic breed Chato Murciano (Murcia Region, south-eastern Spain) were studied: light weight (LW, 147.98 ± 3.78 kg live weight) and heavy weight (HW, 176.07 ± 4.78 kg live weight). No weight-dependent effects were observed on carcass quality (carcass yield, length, back fat thickness) or on moisture, pH, and the L* and a* coordinates. The HW group had a higher fat content and cholesterol values than the LW group. None of the fatty acids analysed in the respective meats showed differences between groups (P > .05), except C16:0, C18:2 and C18:3. The HW group had higher values for unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and the n6/n3 index than LW, and lower values for saturated fat and the Saturated/Polyunsaturated fat ratio and a lower Atherogenesis Index. In conclusion, meat and fat quality are influenced by the final live weight of Chato Murciano pigs., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

It is highly likely that phytoplanktonic organisms will interact with MPs in the ocean, and consequently with the pollutants sorbed onto their surfaces. Microalgae play an essential role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem due to the fact that they are a primary producer and the base of marine trophic chains. Therefore, their fitness represents an important index in the assessment of water quality. The objectives of this study were i) to assess the toxicity of MPs and the pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) to the microalgae, Isochrysis galbana, clone t-ISO and ii) to ascertain whether the presence of MPs affects the toxicity of CPF. Microalgae growth rate was selected as the endpoint and a commercial virgin PE micronized powder was chosen as a micro-plastic model, with mean size ranging from 2 to 6 µm, assayed until 25 mg L -1 . CPF was tested at concentrations ranging from 0 to 4 mg L -1 . A constant concentration of MPs (5 mg L -1 ) was loaded with increasing doses of CPF (0-3 mg L -1 ) with a 2 h incubation period. Bioassays were performed at 20 °C, in glass tubes of 50 ml, with air and constant light and an exposure time of 72 h. Cell counts were performed using a Coulter Counter Multisizer III and HPLC was used to quantify the partition of this pollutant among MPs and water. Although microalgae growth was not impacted by MPs, growth was clearly affected by exposure to CPF from 2 mg L -1 and above, with a total growth inhibition at concentrations over 3 mg L -1 . Subsequent to incubation, 80% of CPF was sorbed onto MP surfaces. Two different dose-response curves resulted from CPF bioassays depending on the presence of MP, with lower percentages of inhibition when CPF was presented through MP. Thus, the adsorption of CPF onto MP surfaces modulates the toxicity of CPF on I. galbana growth through a reduction in its toxicity, as CPF is adsorbed onto MP surfaces which are less bio-available to the algal cells., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of mixed alkaline tetrasodium EDTA (EDTANa 4 )/sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions with and without the addition of cetrimide (CTR) against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms., Methods: The antimicrobial solutions were evaluated on a 3-week biofilm of E. faecalis grown on radicular dentin blocks. The irrigating solutions were 2.5% NaOCl group, 20% EDTANa 4  group, 10% EDTANa 4 group, 2.5% NaOCl/10% EDTANa 4 group, 2.5% NaOCl/5% EDTANa 4 group, 2.5% NaOCl/10% EDTANa 4 /0.2% CTR group, 2.5% NaOCl/5% EDTANa 4 /0.2% CTR group, and 0.9% saline solution group. Cell viability was determined by adenosine triphosphate assay, and culture techniques were used to determine colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. In groups with positive growth, the Pearson linear correlation coefficient r (-1 ≤ r ≤ 1) between relative light units (RLUs) and log 10 (CFUs + 1) was calculated. The results of the bioluminescence adenosine triphosphate assay and CFUs of the groups were analyzed by means of analysis of variance and the Duncan test., Results: There was Pearson correlation between RLUs and log 10 (CFUs + 1). A similar reduction of RLUs in all NaOCl groups was seen, giving statistical differences with respect to the control. In the NaOCl groups there was no bacterial growth. The lowest antimicrobial efficacy was found for the EDTANa 4 groups., Conclusions: Mixed alkaline EDTANa 4 /NaOCl solutions with and without the addition of CTR do not interfere with the antimicrobial activity of NaOCl., (Copyright © 2017 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The co-endemicity of malnutrition, erythrocytopathies, transmissible diseases and iron-deficiency contribute to the prevalence of chronic anaemia in many populations of the developing world. Although iron dietary supplementation is applied or recommended in at risk populations, its use is controversial due to undesirable outcomes, particularly regarding the response to infections, including highly prevalent malaria. We hypothesized that a boosted oxidative stress due to iron supplementation have a similar impact on malaria to that of hereditary anaemias, enhancing innate response and conditioning tissues to prevent damage during infection. Thus, we have analysed antioxidant and innate responses against lethal Plasmodium yoelii during the first five days of infection in an iron-supplemented mouse. This murine model showed high iron concentration in plasma with upregulated expression of hemoxygenase-1. The sustained homeostasis after this extrinsic iron conditioning, delayed parasitemia growth that, once installed, developed without anaemia. This protection was not conferred by the intrinsic iron overload of hereditary hemochromatosis. Upon iron-supplementation, a large increase of the macrophages/dendritic cells ratio and the antigen presenting cells was observed in the mouse spleen, independently of malaria infection. Complementary, malaria promoted the splenic B and T CD4 cells activation. Our results show that the iron supplementation in mice prepares host tissues for oxidative-stress and induces unspecific cellular immune responses, which could be seen as an advantage to promote early defences against malaria infection., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The surgical castration of male piglets has traditionally been practised to prevent the development of boar taint in pork meat, but European rules aim to end this practice on a voluntary basis. This study represents a sensory characterization of the meat and meat products from entire male pigs. Three levels of androstenone concentration in fat were compared: low, 0-0.3mgkg -1 ; medium, 0.4-0.9μgkg -1 and high, 1-2.75μgkg -1 . The use of meat from entire males in meat products lowered the perception of boar taint compared with fresh meat but was insufficient to totally mask it. Androstenone levels seem to influence the intramuscular fat content and hence, on texture. The perception of boar taint in meat products depends on androstenone concentration as well as on the characteristics of the product. It is necessary to develop additional strategies to totally mask androstenone perception in meat and meat products., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dysregulated oncogenic serine/threonine kinases play a pathological role in diverse forms of malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM), and thus represent potential therapeutic targets. Here, we evaluated the biological and functional role of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) and its potential as a new target in MM for clinical applications. PAK4 promoted MM cell growth and survival via activation of MM survival signaling pathways, including the MEK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Furthermore, treatment with orally bioavailable PAK4 allosteric modulator (KPT-9274) significantly impacted MM cell growth and survival in a large panel of MM cell lines and primary MM cells alone and in the presence of bone marrow microenvironment. Intriguingly, we have identified FGFR3 as a novel binding partner of PAK4 and observed significant activity of KPT-9274 against t(4;14)-positive MM cells. This set of data supports PAK4 as an oncogene in myeloma and provide the rationale for the clinical evaluation of PAK4 modulator in myeloma.

Boar taint is an unpleasant odour and flavour present in some entire male pigs that is due to the presence of androstenone and skatole. The aim of the study was to assess the sensitivity of 150 consumers to androstenone and to compare the acceptability and liking of meat from castrated and entire pigs, cooked with different cooking methods. Meat samples consisted of loins from castrated (CM) and entire male pigs (EM) with high levels of androstenone cooked by two cooking methods: sous-vide and fried/breaded with garlic and parsley. Consumers evaluated smell and flavour acceptability, and overall liking of CM and EM for each cooking method. The results of the study showed that dislike of androstenone odour increased significantly with sensitivity. The results of acceptability and overall liking were similar in CM and EM for both cooking methods. Therefore, the two cooking methods used in the study may be useful to mask boar taint., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the smear layer on the antimicrobial activity of a 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)/9% etidronic acid (HEBP) irrigating solution against bacteria growing inside dentin tubules., Methods: Dentin tubules were infected with Enterococcus faecalis by centrifugation. After 5 days of incubation, the smear layer had formed in half of the samples, which were then treated with 2.5% NaOCl either alone or combined with 9% HEBP for 3 minutes. The percentage of dead cells in infected dentinal tubules was measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy and the live/dead technique. The smear layer on the surface of the root canal wall was also observed by scanning electron microscopy. Results of the percentage of dead cells were compared using parametric tests after subjecting data to the normalized Anscombe transformation. The level of significance was P < .05., Results: In the absence of the smear layer, 2.5% NaOCl alone and combined with 9% HEBP showed high antimicrobial activity without significant differences between the 2. The smear layer reduced the antimicrobial activity of 2.5% NaOCl significantly, whereas the solution with HEBP was not affected. No dentin tubules free of the smear layer were obtained in the 2.5% NaOCl group. In the case of 2.5% NaOCl/9% HEBP, 95.40% ± 3.63% of dentin tubules were cleaned., Conclusions: The presence of the smear layer reduced the antimicrobial activity of 2.5% NaOCl. The combination of 2.5% NaOCl/9% HEBP exerted antimicrobial activity that was not reduced by the smear layer., (Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The use of smoking and/or spices was evaluated for their ability to mask boar taint in frankfurters manufactured from entire pigs with high levels of androstenone. Five frankfurter types were considered: control, smoked, flavouring+smoked, spicy and spicy+smoked. A trained panel in androstenone perception carried out a sensory profile on the different sausages. The highest scores for androstenone perception (odour, flavour and aftertaste) were found in frankfurters that included no masking strategy which indicated the effectiveness of the evaluated strategies. Regarding masking strategies, the contribution of spices and smoking to sensory perception of frankfurters was detected by the panellists. Smoking was the best strategy to mask androstenone odour, while the use of spices masked androstenone odour to a greater extent than androstenone flavour. Only the combined use of spices and smoking was able to eliminate the perception of androstenone. The application of this strategy in frankfurters could be an alternative in the commercialization of entire pigs., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of dentin powder on the concentration, pH, and antimicrobial activity of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) alone and combined with etidronic acid (HEBP)., Methods: Biofilms of Enterococcus faecalis were grown on the surface of dentin blocks for 5 days and then exposed to 1% and 2.5% NaOCl alone or combined with 9% HEBP for 3 minutes in the absence and presence of dentin powder. The biovolumes of the biofilm were measured using confocal microscopy and the live/dead technique. The available chlorine and pH of the solutions were also measured. Nonparametric tests were used to determine statistical differences (P < .05)., Results: The presence of dentin powder resulted in a reduction of the free available chlorine and pH in all the irrigating solutions; 1% NaOCl lost its antimicrobial activity completely in the presence of dentin powder. The antimicrobial activity was significantly reduced in the 2.5% NaOCl and 1% NaOCl/HEBP groups, and it was not affected in the 2.5% NaOCl/HEBP group., Conclusions: The presence of dentin powder significantly decreased the available chlorine and antimicrobial activity of 1% NaOCl, 2.5% NaOCl, and 1% NaOCl/HEBP irrigating solutions. The antimicrobial activity of 2.5% NaOCl/HEBP was not affected by the dentin powder after a 3-minute contact time against E. faecalis biofilms., (Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ninety (45 castrated males and 45 gilts) Iberian × Duroc pigs were used in this study. During the finishing period (95-160 kg body weight, 74 days) animals received conventional feed (control G0) or the same feed plus 5% (G5) or 10% (G10) of crude glycerine to partially replace wheat. In general, neither the diet nor gender affected ultrasound, carcass or meat quality parameters. The G10 had lower values of cooking loss and a* than the G5 and G0 groups. The fatty acids, C10:0, C12:0 and C18:3, in intramuscular fat were lower in both glycerine groups. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and 18:2 decreased and C20:0 increased at the subcutaneous fat of G10 animals. Castrated males produced carcasses with higher backfat thickness and fat content. Castrated males had a higher SFA content in subcutaneous fat than females (P<0.001). In conclusion, up to 10% crude glycerine could be used in the Iberian × Duroc diet., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities and physicochemical properties of AH Plus sealer mixed with different concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BC)., Methods: AH Plus was tested alone and mixed with 1%, 2% and 3% of BC. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the sealers against Enterococcus faecalis were evaluated by the direct contact test (DCT) and by confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. Setting time, flow and solubility were assessed according to ANSI/ADA specifications. Microhardness and contact angle tests were also performed. The chemical changes of the sealers were evaluated by X-ray diffraction analysis, and both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR)., Results: AH Plus+3% BC was the only sealer to promote total elimination of E. faecalis and the biovolume in this group was significantly lower than in the rest of the sealers (p>0.05). The physical properties of the sealers were according to the ANSI/ADA specifications. The microhardness decreased significantly when BC was added and a significant reduction in contact angle was obtained when incorporating 2% and 3% BC (p<0.05). No phase changes were observed with the modified sealers., Conclusions: The addition of 2% or higher concentrations BC to AH Plus showed antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities without affecting the properties specified in ANSI/ADA standards. However, additives to the root canal sealer altered other physical and chemical properties that are not commonly found in the literature to evaluate filling materials., Clinical Significance: The present study highlights that the antimicrobial properties of AH Plus can be significantly improved with the addition of BC. Testing beyond what is specified in standards may be indicated., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)/9% etidronic acid (HEBP) irrigant solution on Enterococcus faecalis growing in biofilms and a dentinal tubule infection model., Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the solutions 2.5% NaOCl and 9% HEBP alone and associated was evaluated on E. faecalis biofilms grown in the Calgary biofilm model (minimum biofilm eradication concentration high-throughput device). For the dentinal tubule infection test, the percentage of dead cells in E. faecalis-infected dentinal tubules treated with the solutions for 10 minutes was measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy and the live/dead technique. Available chlorine and pH of the solutions were also measured. Distilled water was used as the control. Nonparametric tests were used to determine statistical differences., Results: The highest viability was found in the distilled water group and the lowest in the NaOCl-treated dentin (P < .05). Both NaOCl solutions killed 100% of the E. faecalis biofilms and showed the highest antimicrobial activity inside dentinal tubules, without statistical differences between the 2 (P < .05). The HEBP isolated solution killed bacteria inside dentinal tubules but did not present any significant effect against E. faecalis biofilms. The incorporation of HEBP to NaOCl did not cause any loss of available chlorine within 60 minutes., Conclusions: HEBP did not interfere with the ability of NaOCl to kill E. faecalis grown in biofilms and inside dentinal tubules., (Copyright © 2014 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim was to study the effect of the incubation method and TBA reagent (concentration/solvent) on yellow pigment interference in meat products. Distillates from red sausage, sucrose, malondialdehyde and a mixture of sucrose-malondialdehyde were reacted with four different TBA solutions at five different temperature/time relations. Two TBA solutions were prepared at 20mM using 90% glacial acetic acid or 3.86% perchloric acid. In addition, an 80mM TBA solution was prepared using distilled water adjusted to pH4 and another using 0.8% TBA in distilled water. The temperature/time relations were: (1) 35min in a boiling water bath; (2) 70°C/30min; (3) 40°C/90min; (4) room temperature (r.t.) (24°C) in dark conditions for 20h; and (5) 60min in a boiling water bath. The results showed that aqueous or diluted acid solutions of TBA reagent and the application of 100°C for less than 1h provided the best conditions to minimize the presence of yellow pigments and maximize pink pigment formation in meat products., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Three hundred and six Limousin young bulls (7±1months of age, initial body weight 273±43kg) were used to evaluate the effect of crude glycerine supplementation on animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. Animals were assigned to three different diets: Control (0% of crude glycerine), G2 and G4 (2 and 4% of crude glycerine, respectively). The diets were administrated ad libitum for 240days (final body weight 644±24kg). Average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake, the gain:feed ratio, ultrasound measures in vivo, carcass characteristics, pH, water holding capacity, drip losses, and cooking losses were not affected (P>0.05) by diets. Diet decreased C16:0 (P<0.01) and C16:1 (P<0.05) contents in meat. The G4 meat showed lower C12:0, C14:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, c9,t11-c18:2, C20:0 and C20:4 levels (P<0.05) than control. Glycerine increased desirable fatty acid percentages (P<0.05) in intramuscular fat., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The use of root canal filling materials with antibacterial activity can be considered beneficial to reduce the remaining microorganisms in the root canal system, where Enterococcus faecalis is often found, and prevent recurrent infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and capacity for inhibiting E. faecalis biofilm formation of AH Plus, alone and mixed with chlorhexidine (CHX), cetrimide (CTR), and combinations of the two., Methods: AH Plus alone and mixed with 1% and 2% CHX, 0.1%-0.5% CTR, and combinations of both were tested to assess antimicrobial activity by a modified direct contact test and determine inhibition of E. faecalis biofilm formation at 24 hours. The results were expressed as log10 viable counts. Eradication and inhibition of biofilm formation were understood as no bacterial growth or log10 reduction = 5 with respect to the control (AH Plus alone)., Results: AH Plus + CHX showed a low antimicrobial activity with respect to the control (at 2%, log10 reduction = 1.30). None of the tested concentrations achieved eradication or inhibition of biofilm. AH Plus + CTR showed a direct relationship of concentration-antimicrobial effect, reaching a log10 reduction of 2.92 at 0.5% and inhibition of biofilm formation at 0.2%. With the combination CHX + CTR, lower concentrations were needed for the same effect, and eradication and inhibition of biofilm were achieved., Conclusions: The addition of CHX, CTR, or some combination of both to AH Plus confers it with bactericidal and anti-biofilm activity against E. faecalis., (Copyright © 2014 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The use of root canal filling materials with antibacterial activity could be considered beneficial to reduce any remaining microorganisms and prevent recurrent infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties of AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany) alone and mixed with 1% or 2% chlorhexidine (CHX); 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5% of cetrimide (CTR); and combinations of both., Methods: Setting time, flow, solubility, and radiopacity of AH Plus and modified AH Plus were evaluated following the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association's requirements (ANSI/ADA Specification No. 57/2000). Five samples of each material were tested for each property. The hypothesis of equality among groups was rejected by an analysis of variance test, and then a post hoc Tukey test was performed., Results: AH Plus and modified AH Plus gave values that are within the required standards. Overall, results indicate that CTR increased setting time, but CHX alone and CHX + CTR reduced it. CHX increased the flow, whereas CTR reduced it, and their combinations gave intermediate values comparable with those of AH Plus. Concerning solubility, the weight loss in all samples was under the 3% limit set by the ANSI/ADA. In comparison with AH Plus alone, radiopacity gave slightly lower values with CHX, higher values with CTR, and similar values with combinations., Conclusions: The addition of CHX, CTR, and combinations of both to AH Plus did not alter the physical properties specified by ANSI/ADA requirements., (Copyright © 2013 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The use of irrigating solutions with long-lived activity helps to avoid failure of endodontic therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial substantivity against Enterococcus faecalis by using as carrier a dentin-volumetric unit exposed to chlorhexidine (CHX) and alexidine (ALX)., Methods: Standardized dentin blocks of human molars were treated for 1 minute with 0.5% CHX, 2% CHX, 1% ALX, and 2% ALX. They were exposed to E. faecalis in suspension to determine antimicrobial substantivity during a period of 80 days. Results were analyzed by means of Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P < .05)., Results: ALX obtained the best results, with differences that were significantly different from CHX regardless of the concentration. Although all the samples treated with CHX were contaminated at the end of the study period, a direct relationship was seen between concentration and survival time. There was no statistically significant difference between 2% and 1% ALX., Conclusions: The present study shows that 2% and 1% ALX used for 1 minute provide longer antimicrobial substantivity against E. faecalis than CHX when applied to 2% and 0.5%., (Copyright © 2013 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerance of an infant formula supplemented with Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, a probiotic strain isolated from breast milk, in infants of 1-6 months of age. A randomized double blinded controlled study including healthy infants was conducted. One month aged infants received a prebiotic infant formula supplemented with L. fermentum (experimental group) or the same formula without the probiotic strain (control group) for 5 months. The primary outcome of the study was average daily weight gain between baseline and 4 months of age. Secondary outcomes were other anthropometric data (length and head circumference), formula consumption, and tolerance. Incidence of infections was also recorded by pediatricians. No significant differences in weight gain were observed between both groups, neither at 4 months of age (29.0±7.8 vs 28.9±5.7g/day) nor at 6 months (25.1±6.1 vs 24.7±5.2g/day). There were no statistically significant differences in the consumption of the formulae or symptoms related to the tolerance of the formula. The incidence rate of gastrointestinal infections in infants of the control group was 3 times higher than in the probiotic group (p=0.018). Therefore, consumption of a prebiotic infant formula enriched with the human milk probiotic strain L. fermentum CECT5716 from 1 to 6 months of life is well tolerated and safe. Furthermore, the consumption of this formula may improve the health of the infants by reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal infections., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Four groups of Manchega breed suckling lambs, stunned with different CO(2) concentrations and exposure times (G1: 80% CO(2) 90s; G2: 90% CO(2) 90s; G3: 90% CO(2) 60s; G4: 80% CO(2) 60s) plus an electrically stunned control group (G5), were used to determine (1) the physiological responses (hormonal, haematological and biochemical blood parameters) of animals after stunning and (2) the stunning effectiveness in each group. No significant differences were found among groups for hormonal levels. Within haematological parameters, significant differences among groups were only found for haemoglobin (P<0.05) and leucocytes (P<0.01), with lowest values in both groups stunned with 90% CO(2). There were significant differences between groups (P<0.01) for urea and total protein, creatinine and LDH (P<0.05; lowest and highest, respectively, for G1) and for sodium (P<0.001; lowest in G3). Stunning effectiveness was highest in G5, G3 and G1 groups and lowest in G2 and G4 (100%, 90%, 89%, 50% and 43%, respectively). According to discriminant analysis, sodium, leucocytes and creatinine marked the differences among stunning groups., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Forty-nine Manchega breed male suckling lambs were used in this experiment. The effect of CO(2) concentration and exposure time at stunning [80% CO(2) for 90 s (G1); 90% CO(2) for 90 s (G2); 90% CO(2) for 60 s (G3); 80% CO(2) for 60 s (G4)] plus an electrically stunned control group (G5) was assessed for pH, colour (L(*), a(*), b(*), C(*) and h(*)), water holding capacity (WHC), drip loss (DL), cooking loss (CL) and shear force (SF) in samples packed under two different types of modified atmospheres (MA: MA A: 70%O(2)+30%CO(2); MA B: 69.3%N(2)+30%CO(2)+0.7%CO) at 7, 14 and 21 d post-packaging. The lowest pH was found in G4 and in G5. The highest WHC and the lowest CL were found in G2 and G3 groups (P<0.05). Modified atmospheres did not affect on pH, WHC, CL and DL, although a significant effect (P<0.001) on colour was found at all the analysis times. Both the type of stunning and the modified atmosphere affected SF values., (2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, the effect of type of stunning (electrical v. gas) and the gas mixtures in a modified atmosphere (MA) packing system (MA-A: 30% CO2 + 70% O2; MA-B: 30% CO2 + 69.3% N2 + 0.7% CO; MA-C: 40% CO2 + 60% N2) on light lamb meat quality, obtained by 20 males of Manchego Spanish breed, was evaluated at 7, 14 and 21 days post packing. For all ageing times, gas-stunned groups reached the highest pH (P < 0.001) and shear force (SF) values (P < 0.05), and at 21 days, water losses were highest; in contrast, meat colour coordinates were lower (P < 0.001). In general, MA-B showed the highest stability for colour coordinates whereas the lowest tenderness (high SF) was found on MA-A. In this study, the gas mixture with a low carbon monoxide level (MA-B) promoted a higher colour stability and good tenderness, in comparison to the other two blends. In contrast, the conventional packaging system (type A, high oxygen levels) had a reduced tenderness and major colour instability.

The effect of CO(2) concentration and exposure time at stunning [80% CO(2) for 90s (G1); 90% CO(2) for 90s (G2); 90% CO(2) for 60s (G3); 80% CO(2) for 60s (G4)] plus an electrically stunned control group (G5) was assessed for lipid oxidation (LO) and microbial levels, [total viable counts, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp.] in Manchega breed suckling lamb meat at 24h and 7days post-mortem. Differences in LO were found at 7days post-mortem (P<0.05) with the highest value for G4. In general, values of all microorganisms studied were higher in G5. In addition the effects of these stunning methods (TS) on both LO and microbial counts were assessed in samples packed under two different types of modified atmospheres (MA: MA-A: 70% O(2)+30% CO(2); MA-B: 69.3% N(2)+30% CO(2)+0.7% CO) at 7, 14 and 21days post-packaging. Both factors (TS and MA), significantly affected LO, which was highest in the samples from the MA-A/G4 group. In general there were no significant differences in microbial quality between modified atmospheres. However, the type of stunning affected microbial count (P<0.001) at all analysis times. In general, G4 and G5 showed the highest level in all microorganisms assessed, while the rest of the gas-stunning groups showed more stability with ageing.

This study examined the effect of different gas stunning methods (concentration of CO(2)/time of exposure (G1: 80%90s; G2: 90%90s; G3: 90%60s; G4: 80%60s) on the initial meat quality of Manchego breed light lambs (25kg live weight) and at 7days post-mortem, assessed by pH, colour coordinates, water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), drip loss (DL) shear force (SF) and lipid oxidation. An electrically stunned control group (G5) was used. Stunning method had a significant effect on pH values (P<0.001) as well as on pH decline (P<0.01). The lowest pH was found at 24h post-slaughter in G1 and the highest one on G5. The greatest drop in pH (pH(0)-pH(24)) was found in G1 and G5 while the smallest in G3. In general values of colour coordinates, WHC and DL were similar in all groups. Stunning method affected CL (P<0.001) at 7 days post-slaughter, with the lowest values being found in G1. Significant differences among groups were found (P<0.05) in SF values at both post-mortem times, with less tender meat in groups stunned with 80% CO(2), especially in G1. A significant effect (P<0.001) due to the type of stunning was found at 24h on lipid oxidation, with the highest value in G5. After ageing this parameter was lowest (P<0.05) in G1 and G4.

Forty-nine Manchega breed male suckling lambs were used to determine the effect of different stunning methods (using two different CO2 concentrations and exposure times) on lamb meat quality. The lambs were allocated to five stunning treatments including four CO2 treatments [80% CO2 for 90s (G1); 90% CO2 for 90s (G2); 90% CO2 for 60s (G3); 80% CO2 for 60s (G4)] and an electrically stunned control group (G5). The gas-stunning treatments did not cause neither haematomas nor blood splash in the carcasses. Meat quality was evaluated by testing pH, colour (L(∗), a(∗), b(∗), chroma, hue values), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), shear force (SF), drip loss (DL) and total aerobic bacteria. Statistical differences in pH at 24h post-mortem, colour, WHC and CL were not found among groups. After 7 days post-mortem, there were statistical differences among groups in pH (highest in G4 and G5) and in DL (highest in G1). There were differences in SF due to stunning method evident after 72h and 7 days ageing. The statistical differences (P<0.01) among groups on total aerobic bacteria at 24h (lower and higher values in G2 and G5, respectively) disappeared at 7 days post-mortem. As G2 as G3, could be recommended to stunning suckling lambs since a highest stability with ageing time on meat quality was found using 90% CO2.

The effects of the type of stunning (TS) [electrically vs. gas] and packing in modified atmospheres (MA) [MA-A: 30% CO(2)/70% O(2); MA-B: 30% CO(2)/69.3% N(2)/0.7% CO; MA-C: 40% CO(2)/60% N(2)] on meat quality (pH), drip losses (DL), water holding capacity (WHC), shear force (SF) and instrumental colour (L(∗), and C(∗)chroma) of suckling lamb of the Spanish Manchego breed at 7, 14 and 21d post-packing was studied. Acceptance of meat samples (on the basis of colour and odour) was determined. In general neither the TS nor the MA affected the pH values. Meat from the gas stunned lambs had the lowest DL (P<0.001 at 14d post-packing), but lower WHC (more water expelled; P<0.01 at 14 and 21d post-packing), was more tender (P<0.01) and had higher L(∗) (P<0.001 at 14d post-packing) and C(∗) values (P<0.001) than the electrically stunned group. Similar values of WHC and SF were observed for all MA types but the use of CO in the packs (MA-B) caused less DL, gave the highest C(∗) values, acceptability and colour stability with time of storage.

This study examined the effect of pre-slaughter handling (electrical, gas (CO(2)) or non-stunning) on lipid oxidation (as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS; in the unit of mg malondialdehyde/kg(-1) of meat) of Spanish Manchega breed lamb meat, at 24h and at 7 days post-mortem. Lambs were slaughtered at two different weights (light (L), 25kg, vs. suckling (S), 12.8kg). In general gas-stunned lambs had lower lipid oxidation (P<0.001), and it was higher (P<0.001) in light lambs compared to suckling lambs. In both groups (S and L), malondialdehyde level increased with time (P<0.001), although this increase was lower (P<0.05) in gas-stunned suckling lambs. In addition, we evaluated the effect of stunning methods (TS: electrical vs. gas) and the weight (L vs. S) on lipid oxidation values in samples packed in different types of modified atmosphere (MA: A: 70%O(2)+30%CO(2); B: 69.3%N(2)+30%CO(2)+0.7%CO; C: 60%N(2)+40%CO(2)) at 7, 14 and 21 days post-packing. Values were higher in samples with MA-type A and lower in B and C types (P<0.05). A significant interaction (P<0.001) weight×TS was observed and the lowest rates of TBARS were found in the samples of light lambs stunned with gas and packed under anaerobic conditions (MA-B and C).

The present study was proposed to compare the effect that different types of stunning (TS) had on the quality of refrigerated meat from light lambs of the Spanish Manchega breed at 24h and 7 days post-mortem. Lambs were electrically stunned (ESL; n=10), using CO(2) (GSL; n=10) or slaughtered without previous stunning (USL; n=10). Measurements on meat quality were carried out by evaluating pH, colour coordinates (L(∗), a(∗), b(∗)), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), shear force (SF) and drip loss (DL). At 24h post-mortem, no significant differences were found in any of the variables studied. However, at 7 days post-mortem, meat quality was affected by the different TS: pH, CL and DL were lower (P<0.001) in the USL group and GSL obtained the lowest a(∗) (redness) and b(∗) (yellowness) values (P<0.01) than in the other groups. Ageing of meat affected SF in the ESL group (P<0.01), although there were no significant differences due to treatments at any of the ageing times.

Little is known about the assembly pathway or structure of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In this work a truncated HCcAg variant covering the first 120 aa (HCcAg.120) with a 32 aa N-terminal fusion peptide (6x Histag-Xpress epitope) was purified as a monomer under strong denaturing conditions. In addition, minor HCcAg.120 peaks exhibiting little different molecular mass by SDS-PAGE which possibly represents alternative forms harboring the N-termini of HCcAg.120 were detected. Analysis using gel filtration chromatography showed that HCcAg.120 assembled into high molecular weight structures in vitro in the absence of structured nucleic acids. The negative-stain electron microscopy analysis revealed that these structures correspond with spherical VLPs of uniform morphology and size distribution. The diameters of these particles ranged from 20 to 43nm with an average diameter of approximately 30 nm and were specifically immunolabelled with a mouse monoclonal antibody against the residues 5-35 of HCcAg. Results presented in this work showed that HCcAg.120 assembled in vitro into VLPs in the absence of structured nucleic acids with similar morphology and size distribution to those found in sera and hepatocytes from HCV-infected patients. Therefore, these VLPs would be important to elucidate the mechanisms behind the ability of HCcAg to assemble into a nucleocapsid structure.

Thirty-three suckling lambs of the Manchega breed were used to compare the effects of pre-slaughter handling (PSH) on initial meat quality and at 7 days post-mortem. Lambs were distributed into three groups: electrically stunned (ESL; n=15), stunned using CO(2) (GSL; n=10) and slaughtered without previous stunning (USL; n=8). Meat quality was evaluated by examining pH, colour (L*, a*, b* values), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), shear force (SF) and drip loss (DL). At 24 h post-mortem, the highest pH corresponded to the USL group (P<0.05) whereas the lowest pH decline (pH(0)-pH(24)) corresponded to the GSL group (P<0.05). Differences in pH among groups disappeared after 7 days post-mortem. In general, PSH did not affect values of WHC, CL and colour parameters. After 7 days post-mortem, there were significant differences between groups in DL, this being lowest (P<0.05) in stunned animals. GSL resulted in more tender meat (lower SF value) than ESL and USL (P<0.05). Moreover, there was no blood splash in any of the carcasses of the GSL group.

Background: Although intimate partner violence (IPV) has a great impact on women's health, few studies have assessed the consequences on physiologic responses., Methods: Women abused by their intimate male partners either physically (n = 70) or psychologically (n = 46) were compared with nonabused control women (n = 46). Information about sociodemographic characteristics, smoking, pharmacologic treatment, lifetime history of victimization (childhood and adulthood), and mental health status (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD) was obtained through structured interviews. Saliva samples were collected at 8 am and 8 pm for 4 consecutive days to determine morning and evening basal levels of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)., Results: Women who were victims of IPV had more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and incidence of PTSD and higher levels of evening cortisol and morning and evening DHEA compared with control women. Intimate partner violence was the main factor predicting the alterations in hormonal levels after controlling for age, smoking, pharmacologic treatment, and lifetime history of victimization. Mental health status did not have a mediating effect on the impact of IPV on hormonal levels., Conclusions: This study shows that both physical and psychological IPV have a significant impact on the endocrine systems of women.

This study examined family factors reported by parents and their children in relation to children's academic competence. Adolescents and their parents (N=323) reported about the same family characteristics: parental acceptance and involvement in the children's education. Measures related to children's academic competence were: academic competence rated by the teacher, self-reported grades, perceived academic competence and motivational orientation. The results revealed low interrater agreement in family measures. Moreover, ratings by children about parenting characteristics seem higher than those of their parents in predicting academic-related measures. This was true especially in the case of children's reports on acceptance. However, in the case of involvement, parent's reports contributed towards predicting a higher number of variables.

The application of bioengineering to plants for production of biological products for human and animal use has expanded in recent years. The reasons for this expansion are several and include advances in the technology for novel production systems and the need for very large quantities of therapeutic proteins. The process of growing pharmaceutical proteins in plants, extracting, and purifying is a hard task considering the lack of available information concerning these topics. In this work, a recombinant murine monoclonal antibody specific for the hepatitis B surface antigen, expressed in stably transformed transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants, was purified by means of a recombinant protein A Streamline chromatography as the main purification step. The antibody expression level varied with the age of the plants and the number of harvests from 40 to 15microg/ml and the maximum process yield was about 25mg of plantibody/kg of biomass. Protein A Streamline chromatography was successfully used in the purification process yielding a recovery of about 60% and a plantibody SDS-PAGE purity of over 90% but unexpectedly, previous clarification steps could not be totally avoided. The amino acid sequence recognized by this affinity purified plantibody was similar to its murine counterpart verifying the potentiality of plants to replace animals or bioreactors for large-scale production of this monoclonal antibody.