A postmortem study of patients vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: A new coronavirus produces a disease designated as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccination against COVID-19 has resulted in decreased mortality. Postmortems of vaccinated patients play an important part in the forensic analysis of adverse effects after vaccination, which is essential for determining its efficacy and security. The main objective of this study was to describe the results of autopsies of patients vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 carried out in two major centers in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 121 autopsies was performed following Colombian regulations in two main hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia, between March 1st and April 31st, 2021. RESULTS: 118 of the 121 patients (97.52%) had been vaccinated with CoronaVac (Sinovac); only 3 had received other vaccines. Sudden cardiac death was the leading cause of death, with pulmonary embolism another critical finding. No relation between the cause of death and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was found. CONCLUSIONS: A clinical autopsy is a vital for an accurate post-mortem diagnosis. Any relation between the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and the cause of death should be carefully studied in order to provide the general public with evidence-based information about the safety of the vaccination.

Can a Byte Improve Our Bite? An Analysis of Digital Twins in the Food Industry.

The food industry faces many challenges, including the need to feed a growing population, food loss and waste, and inefficient production systems. To cope with those challenges, digital twins that create a digital representation of physical entities by integrating real-time and real-world data seem to be a promising approach. This paper aims to provide an overview of digital twin applications in the food industry and analyze their challenges and potentials. Therefore, a literature review is executed to examine digital twin applications in the food supply chain. The applications found are classified according to a taxonomy and key elements to implement digital twins are identified. Further, the challenges and potentials of digital twin applications in the food industry are discussed. The survey revealed that the application of digital twins mainly targets the production (agriculture) or the food processing stage. Nearly all applications are used for monitoring and many for prediction. However, only a small amount focuses on the integration in systems for autonomous control or providing recommendations to humans. The main challenges of implementing digital twins are combining multidisciplinary knowledge and providing enough data. Nevertheless, digital twins provide huge potentials, e.g., in determining food quality, traceability, or designing personalized foods.

Advantage of Z-stacking for teleconsultation between the USA and Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: There is an emerging need for telecytology in Colombia as the demand for cytopathology has increased. However, due to economic and technological constraints telecytology services are limited. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic feasibility of using whole slide imaging with and without Z-stacking for telecytology in Colombia, South America. METHODS: Archival glass slides from 17 fine needle aspiration smears were digitized employing whole slide imaging (WSI) (Nanozoomer 2.0 HT, Hamamatsu) in one Z-plane at 40x, and panoramic digital imaging (Panoptiq system, ViewsIQ) combining low-magnification digital maps with embedded 40x Z-stacks of representative regions of interest. Fourteen Colombian pathologists reviewed both sets of digital images. Diagnostic concordance, time to diagnosis, image quality (scale 1-10), usefulness of Z-stacking, and technical difficulties were recorded. RESULTS: Image quality scored by pathologists was on average 8.3 for WSI and 8.7 for panoramic images with Z-stacks (P = .03). However, diagnostic concordance was not impacted by image quality ranking. In the majority of cases (72.4%) pathologists deemed Z-stacking to be diagnostically helpful. Technical issues related to Z-stack video performance constituted only a minor proportion of technical problems reported. Slow downloads and crashing of files while viewing were mostly experienced with larger WSI files. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that international telecytology for diagnostic purposes is feasible. Panoramic images had to be acquired manually, but were of suitable diagnostic quality and generated smaller image files associated with fewer technical errors. Z-stacking proved to be useful in the majority of cases and is thus recommended for telecytology.

Selection and role of a mix rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - palmitate ascorbyl as antioxidant in a frying process / Selección y función de una mezcla de ascorbil palmitato-romero (Rosmarinus officinalis) como antioxidante en un proceso de fritura

Background: Several investigations report to rosemary as a plant rich in bioactive components with antioxidant potential, in this work, a rosemary extract was obtained that combined with ascorbyl palmitate provides a synergistic protection to a high fat diet (palm olein). Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of two extracts of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): AP10R and AP30R at three concentrations of 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm, on the oxidative stability of palm oil subjected to accelerated oxidation conditions and in a frying process. Methods: Lipid peroxidation of palm olein with and without antioxidants was monitored by measuring the concentration of hydroperoxides and total polar compounds; the thermal stability of the phenolic compounds in the oil was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Results: The AP10R extract at 2000 ppm inhibited olein oxidation by 30% and 60% in terms of total hydroperoxide and polar concentrations, respectively. The AP30 extract at 2000 ppm had similar inhibition behaviors with values of 27% of total hydroperoxides and 54% by total polar compounds in a time from 20 to 25 h. Conclusions: The results indicated that heating reduces the concentration of polyphenols; this decrease was more evident in olein without antioxidants, reflecting the effect of the polyphenols of rosemary extract on the thermal stability of palm olein.

Antecedentes: Diversas investigaciones reportan al romero como una planta rica en componentes bioactivos con potencial antioxidante, en este trabajo, se obtuvo un extracto de romero que combinado con ascorbil palmitato brinda una protección sinérgica a un sistema alimenticio con alto contenido graso (oleína de palma). Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la adición de dos extractos de romero (Rosmarinus officinalis): AP10R y AP30R a tres concentraciones de 1000, 1500 y 2000 ppm, sobre la estabilidad oxidativa del aceite de palma sometido a condiciones de oxidación acelerada y en un proceso de fritura. Métodos: La peroxidación lipídica de la oleína de palma con y sin antioxidantes fue monitoreada midiendo la concentración de hidroperóxidos y los compuestos polares totales; la estabilidad térmica de los compuestos fenólicos en el aceite se evaluó por espectroscopia de fluorescencia. Resultados: El extracto AP10R a 2000 ppm inhibió la oxidación de oleína en 30% y 60% en términos de la concentración de hidroperóxidos y polares totales, respectivamente. El extracto AP30 a 2000 ppm tuvo comportamientos similares de inhibición con valores de 27% para hidroperóxidos y 54% para el contenido de fenoles totales en un tiempo de 20 a 25 h. Conclusiones: Los resultados indicaron que el calentamiento disminuye la concentración de polifenoles; esta disminución fue más evidente en la oleína sin antioxidantes, reflejando el efecto de los polifenoles del extracto de romero sobre la estabilidad térmica de la oleína de palma.

Capacidad atrapadora de radicales oxígeno (ORAC) y fenoles totales de frutas y hortalizas de Colombia / Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and phenolic content of fruits and vegetables from Colombia

Antecedentes: las frutas y hortalizas poseen un alto potencial nutricional y terapéutico, debido a la presencia de diferentes fitoquímicos, como los compuestos fenólicos que han sido relacionados con la actividad antioxidante. Con el fin de determinar la capacidad antioxidante en matrices alimentarias, uno de los métodos más utilizados es la capacidad atrapadora de radicales de oxígeno (ORAC). Objetivo: estimar el contenido de fenoles totales y la capacidad atrapadora de radicales de oxígeno (ORAC) en frutas y hortalizas colombianas. Materiales y métodos: el material vegetal fue liofilizado, seguido de un proceso de extracción para separar la fracción hidrofílica y lipófilica. El contenido de fenoles totales se determinó en la fracción hidrofílica por el método de Folin- Ciocalteu. La actividad antioxidante fue evaluada en la fracción hidrofílica y lipofílica por ORAC. Resultados: el contenido de fenoles totales varió entre 30,5 a 10.584,7 mg/100 g en las frutas y 12,4 a 1.377,2 mg/100 g en las hortalizas. Los valores ORAC obtenidos variaron desde 685,7 a 207.850,4 μmol trolox/100 g en las frutas y 372,3 a 32.047,9 μmol trolox/100 g en las hortalizas. La curuba y espinaca presentaron mejores propiedades antioxidantes de las frutas y hortalizas analizadas, respectivamente; con diferencias estadísticamente significativas frente a los demás alimentos de su grupo (p<0,05). Conclusión: los productos hortofrutícolas colombianos presentan posibles propiedades nutracéuticas por el aporte de compuestos fenólicos con actividad antioxidante.

Background: Fruits and vegetables have a high nutritional and therapeutic potential. It could be explained by presence of different phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, which have been associated with antioxidant activity. In order to determine antioxidant capacity in food matrices, one of the most widely used methods is oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Objective: To estimate total phenolic content and ORAC in Colombian fruits and vegetables. Method and materials: Plant material was lyophilized, followed by an extraction process to separate hydrophilic and lipophilic fraction. Total phenolic content was estimated from hydrophilic fraction by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions by ORAC. Results: Total phenolic content varied from 30,5 to 10.584,7 mg/100 g in fruits, and 12,4 to 1.377,2 mg/100 g in vegetables. ORAC values were from 685,7 to 207.850,4 μmol trolox/100 g in fruits, and 372,3 to 32.047,9 μmol trolox/100 g in vegetables. Passion fruit and spinach had better antioxidant properties. Conclusions: Nutraceutical properties of Colombian fruits and vegetables may be explained by phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity.

Identification of enoxacin as an inhibitor of osteoclast formation and bone resorption by structure-based virtual screening.

An interaction between the B2 subunit of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) and microfilaments is required for osteoclast bone resorption. An atomic homology model of the actin binding site on B2 was generated and molecular docking simulations were performed. Enoxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was identified and in vitro testing demonstrated that enoxacin blocked binding between purified B2 and microfilaments. Enoxacin dose dependently reduced the number of osteoclasts differentiating in mouse marrow cultures stimulated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), as well as markers of osteoclast activity, and the number of resorption lacunae formed on bone slices. Enoxacin inhibited osteoclast formation at concentrations where osteoblast formation was not altered. In summary, enoxacin is a novel small molecule inhibitor of osteoclast bone resorption that acts by an unique mechanism and is therefore an attractive lead molecule for the development of a new class of antiosteoclastic agents.

Floral variation and floral genetics in basal angiosperms.

Recent advances in phylogeny reconstruction and floral genetics set the stage for new investigations of the origin and diversification of the flower. We review the current state of angiosperm phylogeny, with an emphasis on basal lineages. With the surprising inclusion of Hydatellaceae with Nymphaeales, recent studies support the topology of Amborella sister to all other extant angiosperms, with Nymphaeales and then Austrobaileyales as subsequent sisters to all remaining angiosperms. Notable modifications from most recent analyses are the sister relationships of Chloranthaceae with the magnoliids and of Ceratophyllaceae with eudicots. We review "trends" in floral morphology and contrast historical, intuitive interpretations with explicit character-state reconstructions using molecular-based trees, focusing on (1) the size, number, and organization of floral organs; (2) the evolution of the perianth; (3) floral symmetry; and (4) floral synorganization. We provide summaries of those genes known to affect floral features that contribute to much of floral diversity. Although most floral genes have not been investigated outside of a few model systems, sufficient information is emerging to identify candidate genes for testing specific hypotheses in nonmodel plants. We conclude with a set of evo-devo case studies in which floral genetics have been linked to variation in floral morphology.