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Complex behaviors arise from neural circuits that assemble from diverse cell types. Sleep is a conserved behavior essential for survival, yet little is known about how the nervous system generates neuron types of a sleep-wake circuit. Here, we focus on the specification of Drosophila 23E10-labeled dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) long-field tangential input neurons that project to the dorsal layers of the fan-shaped body neuropil in the central complex. We use lineage analysis and genetic birth dating to identify two bilateral type II neural stem cells (NSCs) that generate 23E10 dFB neurons. We show that adult 23E10 dFB neurons express ecdysone-induced protein 93 (E93) and that loss of ecdysone signaling or E93 in type II NSCs results in their misspecification. Finally, we show that E93 knockdown in type II NSCs impairs adult sleep behavior. Our results provide insight into how extrinsic hormonal signaling acts on NSCs to generate the neuronal diversity required for adult sleep behavior. These findings suggest that some adult sleep disorders might derive from defects in stem cell-specific temporal neurodevelopmental programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Storing ground beef at frozen temperatures prior to refrigerated display when using thermoforming vacuum packaging is not a common manufacturing practice. However, limited data on thermoforming packaging film and its interaction with meat quality suggests that more information is needed. The current study aimed to identify the influences of thermoforming packaging on the surface color and lipid oxidation of ground beef. Ground beef was portioned into 454 g bricks and packaged into one of three thermoforming films: T1 (150 µ polyethylene/EVOH/polyethylene coextrusion), T2 (175 µ polyethylene /EVOH/polyethylene coextrusion), and T3 (200 µ polyethylene/EVOH/polyethylene coextrusion), stored for 21 days at -20.83 °C (±1.50 °C), and displayed for 42 days at 3.0 °C ± 1.5 °C. There were no statistical differences for the packaging treatment of lipid oxidation ( p = 0.0744), but oxidation increased throughout storage day ( p < 0.0001). The main effects of treatment and day resulted in altered ( p < 0.05) surface lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness, hue angle (°), red-to-brown (RTB), and relative myoglobin for met-myoglobin (MET), deoxymyoglobin (DMB), and oxymyoglobin (OMB). Surprisingly, there was an interaction between treatment and day for the calculated relative values of chroma ( p = 0.0321), Delta E ( p = 0.0155), and the ratio of a*:b* ( p < 0.0001). These results indicate that thermoforming vacuum packaging can reduce the rate of deterioration that occurs to ground beef color and the rate of oxidation.

Chromium and arsenic are among the priority pollutants to be controlled by regulatory and health agencies due to their ability to accumulate in food chains and the harmful effects on health resulting from the ingestion of food contaminated with metals and metalloids. In the present work, four biohybrid membrane systems were developed as alternatives for the removal of these pollutants, three based on polyvinyl alcohol polymeric mesh (PVA, PVA-magnetite, PVA L-cysteine) and one based on polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), all associated with bioremediation agents. The efficiency of the bioassociation process was assessed through count methods and microscopy. The removal capacity of these systems was evaluated in synthetic liquid medium, both in the absence and in the presence of soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings. The content of chromium and arsenic was also analyzed in aerial and hypogeous tissues of seedlings grown on contaminated solid substrate. PVA and PVA-magnetite biohybrid membranes showed the highest removal rates, between 57 and 75% of the initial arsenic content and more than 80% of the initial chromium content after 48 h of treatment, when evaluated in synthetic liquid media with initial concentrations of 2.5 ppm of pentavalent arsenic and 5 ppm of hexavalent chromium, both in presence and absence of seedlings. PVA and PBAT promoted a significant reduction of arsenic translocation to the aerial parts, generally edible, of this crop of agronomic interest. The systems tested showed a high potential for biotechnological applications in matrices affected by the presence of arsenic and chromium., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The storage duration of fresh meat products is a contributing factor leading to increased waste and loss at the retail counter. Losses of fresh pork can be linked to packaging methods that do not protect the attributes of color, taste, and odors consumers use in determining wholesome meat. Boneless pork loins (N = 63) were fabricated into 2.54-cm-thick chops and assigned to one of three vacuum treatments (VacA, VacB, VacC) or a fourth polyvinyl chloride overwrap (PVC) treatment to assess objective fresh color, cook loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and lipid oxidation. Pork chops (n = 882) were evaluated at 5-day intervals (D 0, 5, 10, 15) in a randomized complete block design. Pork chop surface color was lighter (L*; p < 0.0001) when stored in a vacuum compared to PVC-packaged loin chops, regardless of storage duration. Redness (a*) values were greater ( p < 0.0001) for loin chops stored in PVC than all other vacuum packaging treatments throughout the entire 15-day display period. Relative values for chroma on PVC-packaged loin chops were greater ( p < 0.0001) throughout the simulated retail display period. An interaction of day and packaging treatment ( p < 0.0343) occurred for WBSF. Lipid oxidation for pork chops packaged using PVC was significantly greater ( p < 0.0001) from Day 10 through the completion of the storage period. Results indicate that vacuum packaging limits the deterioration of fresh pork loin chops, whereas traditional overwrapping expedites the color and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage.

Mango processing generates significant amounts of residues (35-65%) that may represent environmental problems owed to improper disposal. The use of mango byproducts as substrates to produce hyaluronic acid (HA) is an attractive alternative to reduce the cost of substrate. In this study, we evaluated the potential of hydrolyzates from mango peels and seeds to produce HA by Streptococcus equi. subsp. zooepidemicus. The physicochemical characterization of mango residues showed that the seeds contain a higher amount of holocellulose (cellulose and hemicellulose), which amounts 54.2% (w/w) whereas it only represents 15.5% (w/w) in the peels. Mango peels, however, are composed mainly of hot water-extractives (62% w/w, that include sucrose, fructose, glucose and organic acids). A higher concentration of monosaccharides (39.8 g/L) was obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis (with Macerex) of peels as compared to seeds (24.8 g/L with Celuzyme). From mango peels, hydrolyzates were obtained 0.6 g/L HA, while 0.9 g/L HA were obtained with hydrolyzates from mango seeds. These results demonstrate that mango byproducts have the potential to be used for production of HA., (© 2024. Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i.)

Background: At hospital level, clinical nutritionists play a fundamental role in health recovery, contributing to shorter hospital stays and addressing hospital malnutrition. However, in Latin America no studies have been conducted on the activities of the nutritionist and the factors influencing their performance., Aims: to describe the activities of the clinical nutritionist in public and private hospital settings in Latin America and to determine the factors associated with disciplinary practice., Methods: A cross-sectional analytical, quantitative study was conducted. Participants consisted of hospital nutritionists from 13 Latin American countries who had participated in a previously validated online survey on the activities performed during their daily work, obtaining a Professional Activities Score (PAS)., Results: 1222 nutritionists participated. Of the activities associated with the professional role, the only ones who reached over 75 % of execution were: performing nutritional intervention; performing nutritional assessment and diagnosis; providing counseling and dietary prescription; developing nutritional care plans for patients with nutritional problems; and performing the monitoring and evaluation of results of priority patients. The least frequent activities were: university teaching and collaborating in research. Regarding the reasons for not performing activities: 34.0 % reported not being included in the activities, 24.5 % mentioned lack of time, and 13.6 % indicated that the activities were conducted by another professional. Variables positively associated with an increase in the PAS were: having spent more years exercising the profession (Beta: 0.028, 95 % CI: 0.004; 0.051), and having a greater number of specialties (4 or more, Beta: 2.294, 95 % CI: 1.031; 3.557). Working in lower-complexity facilities (Low: Beta: -1.037, 95 % CI: -1.443; -0.630), and having more reasons for not performing the activities (3 or more: Beta: -3.105, 95 % CI: -4.111; -2.099) were inversely associated. From the sample, 1.8 % held a doctorate in clinical nutrition, 43.9 % had a specialty, and 64.4 % had a diploma or postgraduate degree in clinical nutrition., Conclusion: None of the activities related to the nutritionist work was performed on a 100 % basis. In Latin America, Ministries of Health should standardize and regulate the functions of the clinical nutritionist, as well as quantifying understaffing and proposing solutions to alleviate the shortage of these professionals, acknowledging the positive impact that they have on the recovery of hospital patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Consumer purchasing of beef is often driven by the trinity of flavor, palatability, and convenience. Currently, beef patties in the United States are manufactured with fat and lean trimmings derived from skeletal muscles. A reduction in total beef supply may require the use of animal by-product utilization such as variety meats to achieve patty formulations. The current study aimed to assess textural, color, and flavor characteristics in addition to volatile compounds through electronic technology, e-nose and e-tongue, of ground beef patties formulated with beef heart. Ground beef patties were manufactured with 0%, 6%, 12%, or 18% beef heart, with the remainder of the meat block being shoulder clod-derived ground beef. Patties ( n = 65/batch/treatment) within each batch ( n = 3) with each treatment were randomly allocated to cooked color ( n = 17/batch/treatment), Allo-Kramer shear force (AKSF; n = 17/batch/treatment), texture profile analysis (TPA; n = 6/batch/treatment), cooking loss ( n = 17/batch/treatment), consumer panel ( n = 3/batch/treatment), e-nose ( n = 1/batch/treatment), and e-tongue ( n = 1/batch/treatment) analysis groups. Patties containing beef heart did not require additional cooking time ( p = 0.1325) nor exhibit greater cooking loss ( p = 0.0803). Additionally, inclusion rates of beef heart increased hardness ( p = 0.0030) and chewiness values ( p = 0.0316) in TPA, were internally redder ( p = 0.0001), and reduced overall liking by consumer panelists ( p = 0.0367). Lastly, patties containing beef heart exhibited greater red-to-brown ( p = 0.0003) and hue angle ( p = 0.0001) values than control patties. The results suggest that beef heart inclusion does alter ground beef quality characteristics and consumer acceptability.

Blood extraction is extremely important for the development of scientific research; however, the existing methods for amphibian´s blood sampling are invasive, mainly leading to the euthanasia of the animal. Therefore, less intrusive methods that allow the obtention of multiple samples from the same individual, are needed as an alternative to the common methods available. Hence, the aim of this study was to propose a minimally invasive method for obtaining blood from the hind leg of Xenopus laevis , that allows continuous sampling without compromising the wellbeing of the organisms. With this method, it was possible to extract blood and plasma from adults and juveniles, and the amount of sample was enough to perform biochemical and molecular assays to assess the viability of the blood. The results also revealed that this method is a convenient alternative to obtain blood without affecting the welfare of the experimental organisms, avoiding the cull of the animals, and the samples are viable for their use in follow up studies.

Biodegradable films based on polymers from renewable resources have become a feasible technology to preserve the quality (texture, color, flavor) and safety of food. The addition of antimicrobial agents to films can prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms that affect meat and poultry products. In this study, a biodegradable film with sodium alginate (SA), taro starch (MS), and nisin (Nis) was optimized to have high tensile strength (TS), breaking force (BF), and a low water vapor permeability (WVP) using a Box-Behnken response surface design, and its antimicrobial effect was evaluated in relation to its use as a packaging material for chicken meat. The OB was characterized via analysis of its mechanical, physical, and chemical properties; in addition, the total migration of Nis was also analyzed, along with its retention ability, the kinetics of the release of Nis into food simulants, and its antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and on inoculated chicken meat. The resulting optimal OB was produced with 1.9% MS, 1% glycerol (G), and 2,369 IU/mL of Nis, and displayed adequate TS and WVP. The OB significantly reduced the microbial load and helped extend the shelf life of the chicken meat under refrigeration by up to 15 d. Total migration and the kinetics of the release of Nis showed that the OB can be used on hydrophilic and acidic foods, making it a natural alternative for use in food packaging., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

With rising consumer demand for fast-food options, quick-service restaurants are constantly developing new menu items to attract consumers. Sous vide cookery has become popular for the in-home and fine dining consumer but has not been considered the first cooking option for quick service applications. Therefore, ground beef patties were manufactured to measure the influence of sous vide cooking time on the patty characteristics of moisture, color, and objective tenderness. Patties were randomly assigned a sous vide cooking time of 30, 60, or 90 min and then grilled to an internal temperature of 71.1 °C. Patties sous vide cooked for 30 min exhibited the greatest ( p < 0.05) cook loss, Allo-Kramer Shear Force (AKSF) and were darker (L*) than patties sous vide cooked for 60 or 90 min. Additionally, neither internal redness, calculated spectral values of chroma, hue angle, or red-to-brown differed ( p > 0.05) regardless of sous vide cooking time. Sous vide cooking duration prior to grilling the ground beef patties altered the moisture, color, and objective texture characteristics of ground beef patties.

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused public and global health crises. However, the lack of on-site fast, reliable, sensitive, and low-cost reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing limits early detection, timely isolation, and epidemic prevention and control. Here, the authors report a rapid mobile efficient diagnostics of infectious diseases via on-chip -RT-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR): MEDIC-PCR. First, the authors use a roll-to-roll printing process to accomplish low-cost carbon-black-based disposable PCR chips that enable rapid LED-induced photothermal PCR cycles. The MEDIC-PCR can perform RT (3 min), and PCR (9 min) steps. Further, the cohort of 89 COVID-19 and 103 non-COVID-19 patients testing is completed by the MEDIC-PCR to show excellent diagnostic accuracy of 97%, sensitivity of 94%, and specificity of 98%. This MEDIC-PCR can contribute to the preventive global health in the face of a future pandemic., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Extended storage duration often results in negative quality attributes of fresh or frozen beef steaks. This study focused on evaluating the fresh and cooked meat quality of beef steaks stored using vacuum packaging for 63 days. Steaks 2.54 cm thick were packaged into one of three thermoforming films VPA (250 µ nylon/EVOH/enhanced polyethylene coextrusion), VPB (250 µ nylon/EVOH/enhanced polyethylene coextrusion), or VPC (125 µ nylon/EVOH/enhanced/polyethylene coextrusion). Steaks placed in VPA were lighter (L*) and redder (a*) in surface color ( p < 0.05) as the display period increased, whereas steaks packaged in VPB and VPC became darker. Yellowness, hue angle (Hue°), and chroma (C*) values were greater ( p < 0.05) in steaks using VPC film as the storage period increased. Calculated spectral values of red to brown were greater ( p < 0.05) for steaks in VPA and VPB than in VPC. However, steaks placed in VPC films contained greater ( p < 0.05) forms of metmyoglobin and oxymyoglobin and lower calculated relative values of deoxymyoglobin. In addition, packaging treatment altered ( p > 0.05) lipid oxidation, but storage time had a greater ( p < 0.05) influence on purge loss, cook loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Current results suggest that the use of vacuum packaging for extended storage of beef steaks (>60) days is plausible.

Xanthomonas vesicatoria is one of the causal agents of bacterial spot, a disease that seriously affects the production of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and pepper ( Capsicum annum ) worldwide. In Argentina, bacterial spot is found in all tomato producing areas, with X. vesicatoria being one of the main species detected in the fields. Previously, we isolated three X. vesicatoria strains BNM 208, BNM 214, and BNM 216 from tomato plants with bacterial spot, and found they differed in their ability to form biofilm and in their degree of aggressiveness. Here, the likely causes of those differences were explored through genotypic and phenotypic studies. The genomes of the three strains were sequenced and assembled, and then compared with each other and also with 12 other publicly available X. vesicatoria genomes. Phenotypic characteristics (mainly linked to biofilm formation and virulence) were studied in vitro . Our results show that the differences observed earlier between BNM 208, BNM 214, and BNM 216 may be related to the structural characteristics of the xanthan gum produced by each strain, their repertoire of type III effectors (T3Es), the presence of certain genes associated with c-di-GMP metabolism and type IV pili (T4P). These findings on the pathogenicity mechanisms of X. vesicatoria could be useful for developing bacterial spot control strategies aimed at interfering with the infection processes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Bianco, Ponso, Garita-Cambronero, Conforte, Galván, Dunger, Morales, Vojnov, Romero, Cubero and Yaryura.)

Our knowledge of traumatic brain injury has been fast growing with the emergence of new markers pointing to various neurological changes that the brain undergoes during an impact or any other form of concussive event. In this work, we study the modality of deformations on a biofidelic brain system when subject to blunt impacts, highlighting the importance of the time-dependent behavior of the resulting waves propagating through the brain. This study is carried out using two different approaches involving optical (Particle Image Velocimetry) and mechanical (flexible sensors) in the biofidelic brain. Results show that the system has a natural mechanical frequency of [Formula: see text] 25 oscillations per second, which was confirmed by both methods, showing a positive correlation with one another. The consistency of these results with previously reported brain pathology validates the use of either technique, and establishes a new, simpler mechanism to study brain vibrations by using flexible piezoelectric patches. The visco-elastic nature of the biofidelic brain is validated by observing the the relationship between both methods at two different time intervals, by using the information of the strain and stress inside the brain from the Particle Image Velocimetry and flexible sensor, respectively. A non-linear stress-strain relationship was observed and justified to support the same., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A clinical nutritionist (CN) is a university-educated professional trained to perform preventive and recovery functions in the health of patients. The actions of these professionals, both worldwide and in Latin America, may face barriers and opportunities that require careful identification and examination. The main objective of this study is to identify the most important barriers and opportunities for the clinical nutritionist in 13 Latin American countries. A qualitative study was carried out; the initial phase involved conducting in-depth individual interviews with 89 informants, experienced CNs from 13 Latin American countries. After calculating the mean and standard deviation, we ranked the top 10 most frequently reported barriers by assigning a score ranging from 1 to 10. Additionally, 3 opportunities were identified with a lower score from 1 to 3. Means and standard deviation were calculated to sort the responses. Results: the most important barrier was the absence of public policies that regulate and/or monitor compliance with the staffing of CNs according to the number of hospital beds, while the most important opportunity was the advances in technology such as software, body analysis equipment and other tools used in Nutritional Care. The identified barriers can interfere with the professional performance of CNs and, moreover, make it difficult to monitor the good nutritional status of patients. It is recommended to consider the barriers identified in this study, as well as the opportunities, with a view to improving the quality of hospital services with an adequate supply of nutritionists., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

To take advantage of the residues generated in the production of products from green coffee and due to the special interest in the compounds contained in the bean, a by-product obtained after the extraction of the oil was studied. The physical characterization of the green-coffee-bean by-product was carried out. Subsequently, the extraction of compound 5-CQA was carried out via leaching using central composition design 24 and evaluating factors such as temperature, time, solid/solvent ratio, and ethanol percentage, and its yield was quantified using HPLC. In addition, the response-surface methodology was used to maximize the efficiency of 5-CQA extraction and to perform the kinetic study. Yields of 59 ± 2 mg of 5-CQA/g from the by-product were obtained, and by selecting the best leaching conditions, the kinetic study was performed at 45, 60, and 75 °C, increasing the yield to a total of 61.8 ± 3 mg of 5-CQA/g. By applying the kinetic model of mass transfer, a fit of R2 > 0.97 was obtained, with KLa values between 0.266 and 0.320 min−1. This study showed an approach to optimize the 5-CQA extraction conditions, resulting in a simple, fast, reproducible, accurate, and low-cost method.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of operating conditions and fructans size distribution on the tight Ultrafiltration process for agave fructans fractionation. A mathematical model of limiting mass flux transfer was used to represent the profile of concentrations over time at the outlet of a pilot scale ultrafiltration system. First, a Box-Behnken experimental design was performed for the optimization of the parameters that determine the operating conditions in their respective ranges: temperature, 30−60 °C; transmembrane pressure (TMP), 1−5 bar and feed concentration, 50−150 kg∙m−3, on the separation factor (SF) and permeate flux. Then, the validation of the model for different fructans size distribution was carried out. The results showed that for SF, the quadratic terms of temperature, TMP and feed concentration were the most significant factors. Statistical analysis revealed that the temperature-concentration interaction has a significant effect (p < 0.005) and that the optimal conditions were: 46.81 °C, 3.27 bar and 85.70 kg∙m−3. The optimized parameters were used to validate the hydrodynamic model; the adjustments conclude that the model, although simplified, is capable of correctly reproducing the experimental data of agave fructans fractionation by a tight ultrafiltration pilot unit. The fractionation process is favored at higher proportions of FOS:Fc in native agave fructans.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding insoluble fiber on the microbiota and metabolites of the caecum and feces of rabbits recovering from epizootic rabbit enteropathy relative to non-infected rabbits. Rabbits that had either recovered from epizootic rabbit enteropathy or ones that had never had epizootic rabbit enteropathy were fed on a diet of 32% or 36% neutral detergent fiber until they were 70 days of age. At this point, the short-chain fatty acid and ammonia levels were measured in caecotroph and fecal samples and compared using 2 × 2 ANOVA. The microbial composition of the samples was also analyzed using next-generation sequencing and compared by PERMANOVA. Caecotrophic samples from previously affected rabbits on lower fiber diets had higher short-chain fatty acid contents and higher species diversity index values for some indices (p < 0.05), although the fecal samples showed lower species diversity levels (p < 0.05). In addition, the PERMANOVA analyses demonstrated that differences were detected in the microbial composition of both fecal and caecotrophic samples, depending on the disease status at the outset of the experiment (p < 0.05). The results of this work show that, although there is some potential in the use of high-fiber diets for the treatment of rabbits that have had epizootic rabbit enteropathy, they are not able to produce the same digestive tract properties as those seen in rabbits that have never had the condition. This is true even after the rabbits have recovered from epizootic rabbit enteropathy.

In this research, a supercritical CO 2 -ethanol extraction was optimized to obtain a green coffee oil rich in bioactive compounds. A face-centered central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of temperature (50-70 °C), extraction pressure (15.0-30.0 MPa), and cosolvent content (5-20%) on the extraction yield and total phenolic compound content of green coffee supercritical extract (GCSE). The experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial model. According to the statistical analyses, the lack of fit was not significant for either mathematical model. From the response surface plots, the extraction pressure and cosolvent content significantly impacted the extraction yield, while the total phenolic compound content was impacted by temperature and cosolvent content. The optimal conditions were a 20% cosolvent content, a pressure of 30 MPa, and a temperature of 62 °C, which predicted an extraction yield of 7.7% with a total phenol content of 5.4 mg gallic acid equivalent g GCSE -1 . The bioactive compounds included 5-caffeoylquinic acid (11.53-17.91 mg g GCSE -1 ), caffeine (44.76-79.51 mg g GCSE -1 ), linoleic acid (41.47-41.58%), and palmitic acid (36.07-36.18%). Our results showed that GCSE has the outstanding chemical quality and antioxidant potential, suggesting that GCSE can be used as a functional ingredient., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2021.)

The hyaluronic acid (HA) global market growth can be attributed to its use in medical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications; thus, it is important to have validated, analytical methods to ensure confidence and security of its use (and to save time and resources). In this work, a size-exclusion chromatography method (HPLC-SEC) was validated to determine the concentration and molecular distribution of HA simultaneously. Analytical curves were developed for concentration and molecular weight in the ranges of 100-1000 mg/L and 0.011-2.200 MDa, respectively. The HPLC-SEC method showed repeatability and reproducibility greater than 98% and limits of detection and quantification of 12 and 42 mg/L, respectively, and was successfully applied to the analysis of HA from a bacterial culture, as well as cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.

The recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass is a major constraint to its high-value use at industrial scale. In nature, microbes play a crucial role in biomass degradation, nutrient recycling and ecosystem functioning. Therefore, the use of microbes is an attractive way to transform biomass to produce clean energy and high-value compounds. The microbial degradation of lignocelluloses is a complex process which is dependent upon multiple secreted enzymes and their synergistic activities. The availability of the cutting edge proteomics and highly sensitive mass spectrometry tools make possible for researchers to probe the secretome of microbes and microbial consortia grown on different lignocelluloses for the identification of hydrolytic enzymes of industrial interest and their substrate-dependent expression. This review summarizes the role of secretomics in identifying enzymes involved in lignocelluloses deconstruction, the development of enzyme cocktails and the construction of synthetic microbial consortia for biomass valorization, providing our perspectives to address the current challenges.

Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films holding a synthetic bioinspired wound healing active compound were used as drug-delivery platforms. Palmitic acid Langmuir monolayers were able to incorporate 2-methyltriclisine, a synthetic Triclisine derivative that showed wound healing activity. The layers proved to be stable and the nanocomposites were transferred to solid substrates. Normal human lung cells (Medical Research Council cell strain 5, MRC-5) were grown over the monomolecular Langmuir-Blodgett films that acted as a drug reservoir and delivery system. The proliferation and migration of the cells were clearly affected by the presence of 2-methyltriclisine in the amphiphilic layers. The methodology is proposed as a simple and reliable model for the study of the effects of bioactive compounds over cellular cultures., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Introduction: Severe burns can alter bone metabolism through different mechanisms. Despite prior published studies describing the association between burns and a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), no clinical guidelines currently exist recommending the systematic evaluation of bone health in patients after severe burns. This study aims to describe the BMD of individuals with severe burn injuries and healthy controls and determine the frequency of low-to-normal bone mass (LNBM) and BMD below the expected range for age (BEA)., Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort of patients with either severe thermal or electrical burns and healthy controls paired by gender and age. We performed a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at least 90 days after the burn and collected data from each patient's clinical evaluation and clinical file., Results: A total of 77 patients (64 men and 13 women) and their paired controls were included in the study (age [mean ± standard deviation, SD]: 30.37 ± 8.66 years). Patients participated in the study an average of 315 ± 438 days after their burn. The BMD (grs/cm2) in total hip burned vs controls was: 0.998 ± 0.135 vs 1.059 ± 0.12 (p = 0.004); femoral neck 0.876 ± 0.121 vs 0.915 ± 0.097 (p = 0.031), spine 0.977 ± 0.127 vs 1.003 ± 0.076 (p = 0.132).The Z-scores for total hip were - 0.06 ± 1.05 vs 0.41 ± 0.80 (p = 0.002); for neck -0.39 ± 0.89 vs -0.01 ± 0.77 (p = 0.005); and for spine -0.75 ± 1.11 vs -0.32 ± 0.73 (p = 0.005). The proportion of subjects with BMD BEA in burns vs controls was 5.2 vs 1.2% (p = 0.05) in total hip, 3.9 vs 0% (p = 0.045) in the neck, and 18.2 vs 1.2% (p = 0.001) in the spine. The logistic regression model found-in burn patients vs controls-an OR of 9.83 for BMD BEA (CI 95%: 2.17-44.45, p = 003), OR = 4.05 for electrical burns (CI 95%: 1.72-20.89, p = 004) and OR = 15.16 for thermal burns (CI 95%: 2.91-79.00, p = 001). The model also found an OR = 2.48 for LNBM (CI 95%: 1.25-4.93, p = 0.009). The burn variables associated with BMD BEA at any site in the patients were BMI >25 Kg/m2 with an OR = 0.180 (CI 95%: 0.046-0.710, p = 0.014); and the lower limb amputation with an OR = 7.33 (CI 95%; 1.12-48.33, p = 0.038). Five burn patients had a fragility fracture., Conclusion: BMD was significantly lower in severely burned patients than in controls, and the proportion BMD BEA cases was significantly higher in the burn patient sample. Severe burns are a strong independent predictor of bone loss, and this risk is maintained for an extended period after the burn., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The thyroidectomy is the most frequently executed procedure in head and neck surgery. Since its first description by Kocher, the transverse cervical incision has been the main access to the thyroid site, as it provides broad exposure of the central neck compartment. Despite the meticulous suture of the incision, the development of a scar with variable dimensions is unavoidable and, hence, some patients might not agree to the approach, due to this consequence. The transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular access (TOETVA) gains importance as an alternative to the traditional surgery, since it avoids the formation of visible scars. The objective of this study is to develop a systematic review on the currently available literature to evaluate possible complications related to the TOETVA. The systematic review was based on the databases of Medline, Cochrane library, Embase and Scielo/Lilacs, resulting in the selection of six studies, which were compared in regard of the type of study duration of the study and identified complications. Our study showed that TOETVA is related to complications similar to the ones identified in the conventional approach, such as hematoma, seroma, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, surgical site infection. The TOETVA was associated to a higher risk of thermic injury of the skin and mentual nerve paresthesia. Moreover, it was possible to conclude that TOETVA is a safe procedure for well selected patients, with favorable conditions and concerned about the aesthetic outcome. The risk of complications of the procedure should always be explained to those patients.

The aim of the present study was to obtain an effective vehiculation system in which bacterial agents could maintain viability improving their removal capacity. Herein, we present a novel biohybrid membrane of polymeric nanofibers and free-living bacteria for the simultaneous removal of pollutants. In this system, bacteria are free within the pores between the nanofibers and adsorbed to the surface of the membranes. Association between bacteria and the membranes was performed through a self-formulated medium, and the presence of the bacteria in the polymeric matrix was evidenced through atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biohybrid membranes associated with the remediation agents Bacillus toyonensis SFC 500-1E and Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A promoted a reduction of up to 2.5 mg/L of hexavalent chromium and up to 200 mg/L of phenol after 24 h of treatment in synthetic medium containing the contaminants. Similarly, more than 46% of the hexavalent chromium and all of the phenol content were removed after treatment of a tannery effluent with initial concentrations of 7 mg/L of Cr(VI) and 305 mg/L of phenol. Counts of the remediation agents from the membranes were always above 1.10 7 CFU/g, also in the reutilization assays performed without reinoculation. Biohybrid membranes were hydrolysis-resistant, reusable, and effective in the simultaneous removal of contaminants for more than 5 cycles. Viability of the microorganisms was maintained after long-term storage of the membranes at 4 °C, without the use of microbiological media or the addition of cryoprotectants. Graphical abstract KEY POINTS: • Polymeric membranes were effectively associated with the SFC 500-1 remediation consortium • Biohybrid membranes removed hexavalent chromium and phenol from different matrices • Removal of contaminants was achieved in many successive cycles without reinoculation.

Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, a bacterial strain isolated from tannery sediments, is able to remove Cr(VI) and simultaneously tolerate high concentrations of phenol. In this study, we used high-resolution microscopies, fluorescence polarization techniques, and several biochemical approaches to improve our understanding about the adaptive mechanisms of this strain to survive in the presence of Cr(VI) and phenol, both individually and simultaneously. Among adaptive strategies developed by Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, an increase in bacterial size, such as length, width, and height, and ultrastructural alterations, such as electron-dense precipitates, the presence of exopolymers, and cell lysis, are noteworthy. The exopolymers observed were consistent with the extensive biofilm formation and exopolysaccharides and extracellular protein quantification. At the cell membrane level, a rapid rigidity was induced in Cr(VI) + phenol treatment. This effect was counteracted after 16 h by changes at the level of phospholipids, mainly in the composition of fatty acids (FAs); in particular, an increase in the unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio was detected. This study shows evidence of some adaptive responses displayed by Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, which allows it to survive in stressful conditions., (© 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The evaluation of by-products to be added to food products is complex, as the residues must be analyzed to demonstrate their potential use as safe foods, as well as to propose the appropriate process and product for recycling. Since coffee is a very popular beverage worldwide, the coffee industry is responsible for generating large amounts of by-products, which include the coffee silverskin (CS), the only by-product of the roasting process. In this work, its characterization and food safety were evaluated by chemical composition assays, microbiological determinations, aflatoxin measurements and acute toxicity tests. The results showed that CS is safe for use in food, in addition to providing dietary fiber, protein and bioactive compounds. An extruded cereal-based ready-to-eat food product was developed through an extreme vertices mixture design, producing an extruded food product being a source of protein and with a high fiber content. Up to 15% of CS was incorporated in the extruded product. This work contributes to the establishment of routes for the valorization of CS; nevertheless, further research is necessary to demonstrate the sustainability of this food industry by-product.

There is increasing interest in research on lignin biodegradation compounds as potential building blocks in applications related to renewable products. More attention is necessary to evaluate the effects of the initial pH conditions during the bacterial degradation of lignin. In this study we performed experiments on lignin biodegradation under acidic and mild alkaline conditions. For acidic biodegradation, lignin was chemically pretreated with hydrogen peroxide. Alkaline biodegradation was achieved by developing the bacterial growth on Luria and Bertani medium with alkali lignin as the sole carbon source. The mutant strain Escherichia coli BL21(Lacc) was used to carry out lignin biodegradation over 10 days of incubation. Results demonstrated that under acidic conditions there was a predominance of aliphatic compounds of the C 3 -C 4 type. Alkaline biodegradation was produced in the context of oxidative stress, with a greater abundance of aryl compounds. The final pH values of acidic and alkaline biodegradation of lignin were 2.53 and 7.90, respectively. The results of the gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis detected compounds such as crotonic acid, lactic acid and 3-hydroxybutanoic acid for acidic conditions, with potential applications for adhesives and polymer precursors. Under alkaline conditions, detected compounds included 2-phenylethanol and dehydroabietic acid, with potential applications for perfumery and anti tumor/anti-inflammatory medications. Size-exclusion chromatography analysis showed that the weight-average molecular weight of the alkaline biodegraded lignin increased by 6.75-fold compared to the acidic method, resulting in a repolymerization of its molecular structure. Lignin repolymerization coincided with an increase in the relative abundance of dehydroabietic acid and isovanillyl alcohol, from 2.70 and 3.96% on day zero to 13.43 and 10.26% on 10th day. The results of the Fourier-transformed Infrared spectroscopy detected the presence of C = O bond and OH functional group associated with carboxylic acids in the acidic method. In the alkaline method there was a greater preponderance of signals related to skeletal aromatic structures, the amine functional group and the C - O - bond. Lignin biodegradation products from E. coli BL21(Laccase), under different initial pH conditions, demonstrated a promising potential to enlarge the spectrum of renewable products for biorefinery activities., (Copyright © 2020 Morales, Ali, Si, Zhang, Zhang, Hosseini, Sun and Zhu.)

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MEP 2 18 is an autochthonous bacterial isolate with antibacterial and antifungal activities against a wide range of phytopathogenic microorganisms. Cyclic lipopeptides (CLP), particularly fengycins, produced by this bacterium; are the main antimicrobial compounds responsible for the growth inhibition of phytopathogens. In this work, the CLP fraction containing fengycins with antibacterial activity was characterized by LC-ESI-MS/MS. In addition, the antibacterial activity of these fengycins was evaluated on the pathogens Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria (Xav), a plant pathogen causing the bacterial spot disease, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01, an opportunistic human pathogen. In vitro inhibition assays showed bactericidal effects on Xav and PA01. Atomic force microscopy images revealed dramatic alterations in the bacterial surface topography in response to fengycins exposure. Cell damage was evidenced by a decrease in bacterial cell heights and the loss of intracellular content measured by potassium efflux assays. Furthermore, the viability of MRC-5 human normal lung fibroblasts was not affected by the treatment with fengycins. This study shows in vivo evidence on the less-known properties of fengycins as antibacterial molecules and leaves open the possibility of using this CLP as a novel antibiotic., (Copyright © 2020 Medeot, Fernandez, Morales and Jofré.)

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains demands the development of new antimicrobial agents. In the last decades, bacteriocins have gained significant interest due to their potential application as biopreservatives in the food industry and as therapeutic agents in medicine. Recent studies project the use of these antimicrobials in agriculture as biocontrol agents. The characterization of bacteriocins and their genetic regulation, however, have been scarcely studied in plant-associated bacteria. In this report, an in-silico and proteomic analysis was performed to identify the bacteriocins produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens SF4c. More than one functional bacteriocin was detected in this strain (S-type bacteriocins and phage-tail-like bacteriocins [tailocins]). It is known that the regulator PrtR represses bacteriocin production in P. aeruginosa under normal condition. However, the mechanism for tailocin regulation remains unknown in plant-associated pseudomonads. In this work, an orthologue of the prtR of P. aeruginosa was identified in the SF4c-tailocin cluster and a prtR null mutant constructed. The expression and production of tailocins was abolished in this mutant; thus evidencing that, unlike P. aeruginosa, PrtR is a positive regulator of tailocins expression in P. fluorescens., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Cry11 family belongs to a large group of δ-endotoxins that share three distinct structural domains. Among the dipteran-active toxins referred to as three-domain Cry11 toxins, the Cry11Aa protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis ( Bti ) has been the most extensively studied. Despite the potential of Bti as an effective biological control agent, the understanding of Cry11 toxins remains incomplete. In this study, five Cry11 variants obtained via DNA shuffling displayed toxic activity against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus . Three of these Cry11 variants (8, 23, and 79) were characterized via 3D modeling and analysis of docking with ALP1. The relevant mutations in these variants, such as deletions, insertions and point mutations, are discussed in relation to their structural domains, toxic activities and toxin-receptor interactions. Importantly, deletion of the N-terminal segment in domain I was not associated with any change in toxic activity, and domain III exhibited higher sequence variability than domains I and II. Variant 8 exhibited up to 3.78- and 6.09-fold higher toxicity to A. aegypti than Cry11Bb and Cry11Aa, respectively. Importantly, variant 79 showed an α-helix conformation at the C-terminus and formed crystals retaining toxic activity. These findings indicate that five Cry11 variants were preferentially reassembled from the cry11Aa gene during DNA shuffling. The mutations described in loop 2 and loop 3 of domain II provide valuable information regarding the activity of Cry11 toxins against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus larvae and reveal new insights into the application of directed evolution strategies to study the genetic variability of specific domains in cry11 family genes.

Bacterial surface molecules are crucial for the establishment of a successful rhizobia-legume symbiosis, and, in most bacteria, are also critical for adherence properties, surface colonization, and as a barrier for defense. Rhizobial mutants defective in the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), or capsular polysaccharides are usually affected in symbiosis with their plant hosts. In the present study, we evaluated the role of the combined effects of LPS and EPS II in cell-to-cell and cell-to-surface interactions in Sinorhizobium meliloti by studying planktonic cell autoaggregation, biofilm formation, and symbiosis with the host plant Medicago sativa. The lpsB mutant, which has a defective core portion of LPS, exhibited a reduction in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces as well as altered biofilm architecture compared with the wild-type Rm8530 strain. Atomic force microscopy and confocal laser microscopy revealed an increase in polar cell-to-cell interactions in the lpsB mutant, which might account for the biofilm deficiency. However, a certain level of biofilm development was observed in the lpsB strain compared with the EPS II-defective mutant strains. Autoaggregation experiments carried out with LPS and EPS mutant strains showed that both polysaccharides have an impact on the cell-to-cell adhesive interactions of planktonic bacteria. Although the lpsB mutation and the loss of EPS II production strongly stimulated early attachment to alfalfa roots, the number of nodules induced in M. sativa was not increased. Taken together, this work demonstrates that S. meliloti interactions with biotic and abiotic surfaces depend on the interplay between LPS and EPS II.

We evaluate the behavior of the membrane of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 during adaptation to polyethylene glycol (PEG). A dehydrating effect on the morphology of the cell surface, as well as a fluidizing effect on the membrane was observed 10 min after PEG shock; however, the bacteria were able to restore optimal membrane fluidity. Shock for 1 h caused an increase of lysophosphatidylethanolamine in the outer membrane at the expense of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), through an increase in phospholipase activity. The amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine did not remain constant during PEG shock, but after 24 h the outer membrane was composed of large amounts of phosphatidylcholine and less amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine similar to the control. The inner membrane composition was also modified after 1 h of shock, observing an increase of phosphatidylcholine at the expense of PE, the proportions of these phospholipids were then modified to reach 24 h of shock values similar to the control. Vesicles prepared with the lipids of cells exposed to 1 h shock presented higher rigidity compared to the control, indicating that changes in the composition of phospholipids after 1 h of shock restoring fluidity after the PEG effect and would allow cells to maintain surface morphology., (Copyright © 2018 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A, a native bacterial strain isolated from tannery sediments, is able to simultaneously remove high concentrations of Cr(VI) and phenol. In this complementary study, high-resolution microscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used to improve our understanding of some bacterial adaptive mechanisms that enhance their ability to survive. AFM contributed in gaining insight into changes in bacterial size and morphology. It allowed the unambiguous identification of pollutant-induced cellular disturbances and the visualization of bacterial cells with depth sensitivity. TEM analysis revealed that Cr(VI) produced changes mainly at the intracellular level, whereas phenol produced alterations at the membrane level. This strain tended to form more extensive biofilms after phenol treatment, which was consistent with microscopy images and the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs). In addition, other exopolymeric substances (DNA, proteins) significantly increased under Cr(VI) and phenol treatment. These exopolymers are important for biofilm formation playing a key role in bacterial aggregate stability, being especially useful for bioremediation of environmental pollutants. This study yields the first direct evidences of a range of different changes in A. guillouiae SFC 500-1A which seems to be adaptive strategies to survive in stressful conditions.

Phage tail-like bacteriocins, called tailocins, represent a class of protein complexes produced by a multitude of bacteria. Pseudomonas fluorescens SF4c, a strain isolated from wheat rhizosphere, produces a bacteriocin similar to phage tail-like pyocins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This tailocin has antimicrobial activity against several phytopathogenic strains of the genus Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas. In this work, the effect of the SF4c tailocin on the phytopathogenic strain X. axonopodis pv vesicatoria Xcv Bv5-4a was analyzed through Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). We demonstrated that tailocins adhere and cause damage to the cell envelope of strain Xcv Bv5-4a. This results in a rapid leakage of intracellular materials, with the subsequent decrease of cell volume. Finally, lysis of sensitive bacteria occurs. This study provides, to our knowledge, the first evidence about the effect of a tailocin analyzed by AFM. Further studies are in progress to evaluate the use of SF4c tailocin in the biocontrol of bacterial spot on tomato., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of significant interest due to their genotoxicity in humans. PAHs quantification in coffee is complex since some of its compounds interfere in the chromatographic analysis, which hinders the reliable determination of the PAHs. Analytical conditions for the ultrasound extraction, purification and quantification of 16 PAHs in roasted coffee were studied. The better extraction efficiency of benzo[a]pyrene (68%) from ground-roasted coffee was achieved with a solvent ratio of Hex:MC (9:1 v/v) and three extraction periods of 20 min, followed by alkaline saponification and purification of the extracts. The detection limits were 0.85-39.32 ng mL(-1), and the quantification limits from 2.84 to 131.05 ng mL(-1), obtained for fluoranthene and chrysene, respectively. The extraction was effective for most of the analytes, with recoveries of 39.8% dibenzo[ah]anthracene and 69.0% benzo[b]fluoranthene. For coffee roasted in a spouted bed reactor, the summation of the 16 PAHs ranged from 3.5 to 16.4 μg kg(-1)., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We report a synthetic approach for the production of ultra-small (0.6 nm) gold nanoparticles soluble in water with a precise control of the nanoparticle size. Our synthetic approach utilizes a pH-depending Au-cysteine polymer as a quencher for the AuNPs grown. The method extends the synthetic capabilities of nanoparticles with sizes down to 1 nm. In addition to the strict pH control, the existence of free -SH groups present in the mixture of reaction has been observed as a key requirement for the synthesis of small nanoparticles in mild conditions. UV-Vis, SAXS, XANES, EXAFS and HR-TEM, has been used to determinate the particle size, characterization of the gold precursor and gold-cysteine interaction., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present an atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning TEM (STEM) study of the local structure and composition of graphene oxide modified with Ba(2+). In our experiments, which are carried out at 80kV, the acquisition of contamination-free high-resolution STEM images is only possible while heating the sample above 400°C using a highly stable heating holder. Ba atoms are identified spectroscopically in electron energy-loss spectrum images taken at 800°C and are associated with bright contrast in high-angle annular dark-field STEM images. The spectrum images also show that Ca and O occur together and that Ba is not associated with a significant concentration of O. The electron dose used for spectrum imaging results in beam damage to the specimen, even at elevated temperature. It is also possible to identify Ba atoms in high-resolution TEM images acquired using shorter exposure times at room temperature, thereby allowing the structure of graphene oxide to be studied using complementary TEM and STEM techniques over a wide range of temperatures., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The particular properties of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have generated great interest in biomedicine, bioanalysis and optoelectronics. However, an association between the CNPs' physicochemical properties with their molecular and morphological characteristics is, even today, a topic of discussion. In this work, we use a simple method of synthesis with the ultimate aim of elucidating the structural nature of the obtained CNPs and its relationship with their well-known fluorescent properties. The sample is studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV-visible and IR spectroscopy, electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL). The results showed that the nanoparticles are constituted by a graphitic core surrounded by an amorphous layer, which seems to be significant in the determination of the optical and electronic properties observed in the system under study.

The relative risk of immune-mediated disorders (IMDs) among women carriers of premutation alleles is estimated by a survey for IMDs among 344 carrier women (age 19-81 years; mean 46.35 and SD 12.60) and 72 controls (age 18-87 years; mean 52.40 and SD 15.40). One hundred fifty four (44.77%) women carrier had at least one IMD, as did 20 controls (27.78%). Among women carriers, autoimmune thyroid disorder was the most common (24.4%), then fibromyalgia (10.2%), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; 9.9%), Raynaud's phenomenon (7.6%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; 3.8%), Sjögren syndrome (2.6%), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; 2.03%), multiple sclerosis (1.74%). Of 55 carriers age 40 or older with FXTAS, 72.73% had at least one IMD, compared to 46.54% of those without FXTAS (n = 159), and 31.58% of controls (n = 57). The estimated odds ratio (OR) for IMD is 2.6 (95% CI 1.2-5.6, P = 0.015) for women with FXTAS relative to those without FXTAS; the likelihood of IMD in carriers without or with FXTAS was also significantly higher than for controls (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.2, P = 0.034; OR 5.5, 95% CI 2.4-12.5, P < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, the odds of having an IMD among carriers with FXPOI is about 2.4 times higher when compared to carriers without FXPOI (95% CI 1.1-5.0; P = 0.021). The likelihood of IMD in carriers with or without FXPOI is greater (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.0; P = 0.021) compared to that of controls., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: We performed a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of activated charcoal (AC) to prevent irinotecan-induced diarrhea (IID)., Procedure: We designed a prospective trial including all patients receiving irinotecan as part of their chemotherapy treatment. Patients were divided into two groups. The experimental group received AC at a dose of 250 mg three times daily during irinotecan administration. The number and severity of events were graded according to the gastrointestinal toxicity criteria of the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria. We used descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact test to evaluate our results., Results: Twenty-two evaluable patients were included for a total of 66 irinotecan chemotherapy cycles. Ten patients received AC and 12 did not. There were 45 cycles in the experimental group and 21 in the control group. A total of 28 events of diarrhea were registered, 13 in 45 cycles (28.88%) in the experimental group and 15 in 21 cycles (71.42%) in the control group (P = 0.002). Grade 3 and 4 diarrhea was present in 4.4% of patients receiving AC against 52.3% in the controls (P = 0.010). Chemotherapy was discontinued in 6.6% in the experimental group and 52.3% in the control group., Conclusions: The use of AC decreased the frequency and severity of IID improving compliance with treatment. We consider AC and effective and safe prophylactic treatment to prevent IID., ((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Starting from 1,2,4-tri-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro-alpha-d-galactopyranose, 4-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro-1,2-O-(1-cyanoethylidene)-alpha-d-galactopyranose (7) was synthesized by treatment with cyanotrimethylsilane. Additionally, 3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,2-O-(1-cyanoethylidene)-6-O-tosyl-alpha-d-galactopyranose was prepared from the corresponding bromide and both cyanoethylidene derivatives were used as donors in glycosylation reactions. The coupling with benzyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-trityl-beta-d-galactopyranoside provided exclusively the beta-linked disaccharides in approximately 30% yield. The more reactive methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-O-trityl-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside gave with donors 3 and 7 the corresponding disaccharides in nearly 60% yield. Furthermore, the synthesis of 3,6-anhydro-4-O-trityl-1,2-O-[1-(endo-cyano)ethylidene]-alpha-d-galactopyranose, which can be used as a monomer for polycondensation reaction is described.

This paper reports a new layer-by-layer assembly approach to fabricate multilayers of cofacially aligned porphyrins on solid supports by a selective siloxane formation utilizing tetraphenylporphyrinatosilicon(IV) chloride as the building block.

A new molecular diode based on biphenyl-co-bispyrimidine was synthesized and showed a pronounced rectifying effect. Further studies indicate that protonation on the nitrogen atoms of the diode molecule by strong acids can reversibly alter the rectifying direction. This phenomenon can be envisioned as a starting point for single molecule detection devices.

Partial tetrasomy of chromosome 22 is a rare multiple congenital anomaly syndrome that is more commonly known as cat-eve syndrome (CES). It is caused by the duplication of a 2-million base region of chromosome 22 (22 pter --> q 11 x 2). The phenotype is extremely variable, and its clinical characteristics include a combination of craniofacial, cardiac, renal, gastrointestinal, and genito-urinary defects. We describe a rare occurrence of CES in a Brazilian family: Three siblings were affected--monozygotic twin boys and their younger brother. All 3 were born to healthy nonconsanguineous parents. On examination, all 3 were found to have strabismus, primary telecanthus, bilateral coloboma iridis, and low-set ears with posterior rotation of the pinnae. Partial tetrasomy of chromosome 22 was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such an occurrence in one family. We discuss the genotype and phenotype of CES, with particular reference to inheritance patterns and craniofacial defects.