Perfil de consumidores e sua percepção sobre antepasto de grão de bico contendo bactéria probiótica / Consumer profile and their perception of chickpea antipasto containing probiotic bacteria

Introdução: A indústria de alimentos e os pesquisadores têm-se dedicado a desenvolver novos produtos funcionais, com características mais naturais. Assim, estudos que identifiquem a demanda dos consumidores buscando atender seus anseios são importantes. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil e a percepção de consumidores sobre antepastos, probióticos e a intenção de compras de um antepasto de grão de bico adicionado de bactéria probiótica. Método: A avaliação foi realizada de forma on-line, por meio de questionário contendo 33 questões respondidas por 322 participantes. Nuvens de palavras foram elaboradas com os resultados obtidos. Resultados: A maioria dos participantes reside na Região Sudeste, 72,7% são do gênero feminino, 37,3% possuem renda familiar de até três salários mínimos, 75,8% sabem o que é antepasto e mais da metade já consumiu grão de bico e conhece seus benefícios. Mais de 84,0% dos participantes sabem o que são probióticos e 90,1% já consumiram produtos probióticos de base láctea. Entretanto, 78,0% demonstraram interesse por opções de produtos probióticos de origem vegetal. Sobre as características que os participantes consideram que melhor descrevem o antepasto, as mais citadas foram: pastoso, macio, agridoce, salgado e firme. A nuvem de palavras mostrou que os respondentes associam probióticos à saúde intestinal e 36% deles estariam dispostos a comprar antepasto de grão de bico contendo probiótico se o produto estivesse disponível no mercado. Conclusão: O estudo indica que os consumidores têm interesse por grão de bico e probióticos, havendo uma demanda potencial por alimentos de origem vegetal contendo probióticos.

Introduction: The food industry and researchers have been dedicated to developing new functional products with more natural characteristics. Thus, studies that identify the demand of consumers seeking to meet their desires are important. Objective: To evaluate the profile and perception of consumers about antipasti, probiotics and purchase intention of a chickpea antipasti added with probiotic bacteria. Method: The evaluation was carried out online, through a questionnaire sent to 322 participants, containing 33 questions. Word clouds were created with the results obtained. Results: Most participants live in the Southeast region, 72.7% are female, 37.3% have a family income of up to three minimum wages, 75.8% know what antipasto is and more than half have consumed beak and knows its benefits. More than 84.0% of the participants know what probiotics are and 90.1% have already consumed dairy-based probiotic products. However, 78.0% showed interest in options for probiotic products of plant origin. About the characteristics that the participants consider that best describe the antipasto, the most cited were: Pasty, Soft, Bittersweet, Salty and Firm. The word cloud showed that respondents associate probiotics with gut health and 36% of those would be willing to buy probiotic-containing chickpea antipasto if the product were available on the market. Conclusion: The study indicates that consumers are interested in chickpeas and probiotics, with a potential demand for plant-based foods containing probiotics.

An efficient machine learning-based approach for screening individuals at risk of hereditary haemochromatosis.

Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disease, where HFE C282Y homozygosity accounts for 80-85% of clinical cases among the Caucasian population. HH is characterised by the accumulation of iron, which, if untreated, can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Since iron overload is preventable and treatable if diagnosed early, high-risk individuals can be identified through effective screening employing artificial intelligence-based approaches. However, such tools expose novel challenges associated with the handling and integration of large heterogeneous datasets. We have developed an efficient computational model to screen individuals for HH using the family study data of the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening (HEIRS) cohort. This dataset, consisting of 254 cases and 701 controls, contains variables extracted from questionnaires and laboratory blood tests. The final model was trained on an extreme gradient boosting classifier using the most relevant risk factors: HFE C282Y homozygosity, age, mean corpuscular volume, iron level, serum ferritin level, transferrin saturation, and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. Hyperparameter optimisation was carried out with multiple runs, resulting in 0.94 ± 0.02 area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUCROC) for tenfold stratified cross-validation, demonstrating its outperformance when compared to the iron overload screening (IRON) tool.

Dextran Sulfate Protects Pancreatic ß-Cells, Reduces Autoimmunity, and Ameliorates Type 1 Diabetes.

A failure in self-tolerance leads to autoimmune destruction of pancreatic ß-cells and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Low-molecular-weight dextran sulfate (DS) is a sulfated semisynthetic polysaccharide with demonstrated cytoprotective and immunomodulatory properties in vitro. However, whether DS can protect pancreatic ß-cells, reduce autoimmunity, and ameliorate T1D is unknown. In this study, we report that DS, but not dextran, protects human ß-cells against cytokine-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. DS also protects mitochondrial function and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and reduces chemokine expression in human islets in a proinflammatory environment. Interestingly, daily treatment with DS significantly reduces diabetes incidence in prediabetic NOD mice and, most importantly, reverses diabetes in early-onset diabetic NOD mice. DS decreases ß-cell death, enhances islet heparan sulfate (HS)/HS proteoglycan expression, and preserves ß-cell mass and plasma insulin in these mice. DS administration also increases the expression of the inhibitory costimulatory molecule programmed death-1 (PD-1) in T cells, reduces interferon-γ+CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and enhances the number of FoxP3+ cells. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that the action of one single molecule, DS, on ß-cell protection, extracellular matrix preservation, and immunomodulation can reverse diabetes in NOD mice, highlighting its therapeutic potential for the treatment of T1D.

Role of myeloid regulatory cells (MRCs) in maintaining tissue homeostasis and promoting tolerance in autoimmunity, inflammatory disease and transplantation.

Myeloid cells play a pivotal role in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. In inflammation, autoimmunity, and after transplantation, myeloid cells have contrasting roles: on the one hand they initiate the immune response, promoting activation and expansion of effector T-cells, and on the other, they counter-regulate inflammation, maintain tissue homeostasis, and promote tolerance. The latter activities are mediated by several myeloid cells including polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and dendritic cells. Since these cells have been associated with immune suppression and tolerance, they will be further referred to as myeloid regulatory cells (MRCs). In recent years, MRCs have emerged as a therapeutic target or have been regarded as a potential cellular therapeutic product for tolerance induction. However, several open questions must be addressed to enable the therapeutic application of MRCs including: how do they function at the site of inflammation, how to best target these cells to modulate their activities, and how to isolate or to generate pure populations for adoptive cell therapies. In this review, we will give an overview of the current knowledge on MRCs in inflammation, autoimmunity, and transplantation. We will discuss current strategies to target MRCs and to exploit their tolerogenic potential as a cell-based therapy.

Inhibiting Inflammation with Myeloid Cell-Specific Nanobiologics Promotes Organ Transplant Acceptance.

Inducing graft acceptance without chronic immunosuppression remains an elusive goal in organ transplantation. Using an experimental transplantation mouse model, we demonstrate that local macrophage activation through dectin-1 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) drives trained immunity-associated cytokine production during allograft rejection. We conducted nanoimmunotherapeutic studies and found that a short-term mTOR-specific high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanobiologic treatment (mTORi-HDL) averted macrophage aerobic glycolysis and the epigenetic modifications underlying inflammatory cytokine production. The resulting regulatory macrophages prevented alloreactive CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity and promoted tolerogenic CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cell expansion. To enhance therapeutic efficacy, we complemented the mTORi-HDL treatment with a CD40-TRAF6-specific nanobiologic (TRAF6i-HDL) that inhibits co-stimulation. This synergistic nanoimmunotherapy resulted in indefinite allograft survival. Together, we show that HDL-based nanoimmunotherapy can be employed to control macrophage function in vivo. Our strategy, focused on preventing inflammatory innate immune responses, provides a framework for developing targeted therapies that promote immunological tolerance.

Desenvolvimento e caracterização físicoquímica, microbiológica e sensorial de leite fermentado funcional / Development and physical-chemical, microbiological and sensorial characterization of functional fermented milk

Objetivou-se elaborar e caracterizar leites fermentados sabor coco, maracujá e juçara, acrescidos ou não de polpa de yacon e verificar a viabilidade de Lactobacillus acidiphilus LA-5 nos produtos. Ao leite adicionou-se soro, sacarose e estabilizante, sendo a mistura pasteurizada, resfriada, adicionada da bactéria probiótica e fermentada até acidez de 0,65%. Utilizou-se separadamente 4% das polpas de coco, maracujá e juçara nos produtos, sendo estes fracionados em dois recipientes. A um deles foi adicionado 4% de polpa de yacon e ao outro não. Realizou-se a caracterização físico-química, microbiológica e sensorial nos tempos 0, 15 e 30 dias. O pH variou de 3,64 a 4,09 e a acidez entre 0,74% e 0,99%, sendo estes influenciados pelo tempo e pela polpa utilizada. Constatou-se <3,0 NMP/g de coliformes a 30 °C e a 45 °C e a contagem de fungos filamentosos e leveduras também atendeu à legislação. A menor contagem de L. acidiphilus LA-5 foi 7,37 log UFC/g nas amostras sabor maracujá após 30 dias. O produto sabor juçara apresentou maiores contagens dessa bactéria. Não foi constatada influência da polpa de yacon na contagem da cultura probiótica (p>0,05) e não houve diferença (p>0,05) do leite fermentado dos sabores coco e juçara fabricados com e sem yacon para os atributos sensoriais. Entretanto, o leite fermentado sabor maracujá fabricado com e sem yacon diferiram (p<0,05). É, portanto, viável o desenvolvimento dos leites fermentados potencialmente funcionais propostos.

The aim of this work was to elaborate and characterize coconut, passion fruit and juçara flavored fermented milks, with or without yacon pulp and to verify the viability of Lactobacillus acidiphilus LA-5 in the products. Whey, sucrose and stabilizer were added to the milk and the mixture pasteurized, cooled, added to the probiotic bacterium and fermented to acidity of 0.65%. Four percent of coconut, passion fruit and juçara pulp was separately used in the products, which were divided into two containers. To one of them was added 4% of yacon pulp and the other not. Physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial characterization were performed at 0, 15 and 30 days. The pH varied from 3.64 to 4.09 and the acidity ranged from 0.74% to 0.99%, influenced by the time and the pulp used. <3.0 NMP/g of coliforms were observed at 30 °C and 45 °C and the count of filamentous fungi and yeast also complied with the legislation. The lowest L. acidiphilus LA-5 count was 7.37 log CFU/g in passion fruit taste samples after 30 days. The product juçara flavor had higher counts of this bacterium. No influence of the yacon pulp was observed on the probiotic culture count (p>0.05) and there was no difference (p>0.05) in the fermented milk of the coconut and juçara flavors made with and without yacon for the sensory attributes. However, fermented milk flavored passion fruit made with and without yacon differed (p<0.05). Therefore, the development of proposed potentially functional fermented milks is feasible.

Factor XIII-guided treatment algorithm reduces blood transfusion in burn surgery / Algoritmo de tratamento guiado pelo fator XIII reduz a transfusão sanguínea na cirurgia de queimados

Abstract Background and objectives: Major burn surgery causes large hemorrhage and coagulation dysfunction. Treatment algorithms guided by ROTEM® and factor VIIa reduce the need for blood products, but there is no evidence regarding factor XIII. Factor XIII deficiency changes clot stability and decreases wound healing. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of factor XIII correction and its repercussion on transfusion requirements in burn surgery. Methods: Randomized retrospective study with 40 patients undergoing surgery at the Burn Unit, allocated into Group A those with factor XIII assessment (n = 20), and Group B, those without assessment (n = 20). Erythrocyte transfusion was guided by a hemoglobin trigger of 10 g.dL-1 and the other blood products by routine coagulation and ROTEM® tests. Analysis of blood product consumption included units of erythrocytes, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and fibrinogen. The coagulation biomarker analysis compared the pre- and post-operative values. Results and conclusions: Group A (with factor XIII study) and Group B had identical total body surface area burned. All patients in Group A had a preoperative factor XIII deficiency, whose correction significantly reduced units of erythrocyte concentrate transfusion (1.95 vs. 4.05, p = 0.001). Pre- and post-operative coagulation biomarkers were similar between groups, revealing that routine coagulation tests did not identify factor XIII deficiency. There were no recorded thromboembolic events. Correction of factor XIII deficiency in burn surgery proved to be safe and effective for reducing perioperative transfusion of erythrocyte units.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: A cirurgia no grande queimado causa hemorragia de grande porte e disfunção da coagulação. Os algoritmos de tratamento guiados por ROTEM® e fator VIIa reduzem as necessidades de hemoderivados, mas falta evidência em relação ao fator XIII. A deficiência do fator XIII altera a estabilidade do coágulo e diminui a cicatrização. Este estudo avalia a eficácia e a segurança da correção do fator XIII e sua repercussão nas necessidades transfusionais na cirurgia do queimado. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo randomizado de 40 doentes submetidos à cirurgia na Unidade de Queimados alocados em grupo A com estudo do fator XIII (n = 20) e grupo B sem estudo (n = 20). A transfusão eritrocitária foi guiada por gatilho de hemoglobina de 10 g.dL-1 e os outros hemoderivados por testes de coagulação de rotina e ROTEM®. A análise do consumo de hemoderivados incluiu unidades de eritrócitos, plasma fresco congelado, plaquetas e fibrinogênio. A análise dos biomarcadores da coagulação comparou os valores pré e pós-operatórios. Resultados e conclusões: O grupo A (com estudo de fator XIII) e o grupo B apresentaram área de superfície corporal total queimada idêntica. Todos os doentes do grupo A revelaram déficit pré-operatório de fator XIII, cuja correção reduziu significativamente a transfusão de unidades de concentrado eritrocitário (1,95 vs. 4,05, p = 0,001). Os biomarcadores de coagulação pré e pós-operatórios foram semelhantes entre os grupos, revelaram que os testes de coagulação de rotina não identificam o déficit de fator XIII. Sem eventos tromboembólicos registrados. A correção do fator XIII na cirurgia do queimado revelou-se segura e eficaz na redução da transfusão perioperatória de unidades de eritrócitos.

Influência da cloração da água utilizada na higienização de tanques de expansão na qualidade do leite cru refrigerado / Influence of the chlorination of the water used in the hygiene of expansion tanks in the quality of refrigerated raw milk

[{"text": "Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a\r\ninfluência da cloração da água utilizada\r\nna higienização de tanques de\r\nexpansão na contagem de Escherichia\r\ncoli e Pseudomonas sp. do leite\r\ncru refrigerado. Amostras de leite cru\r\ne de água de18 tanques de expansão\r\nforam avaliadas por um ano, sendo\r\nque em 9 tanques não havia sistema\r\nde cloração da água implantado no\r\ndecorrer de 12 meses e nos outros\r\n9, por 6 meses não houve cloração\r\nda água e nos 6 meses seguintes o\r\nsistema foi implantado. Para determinação\r\nde E. coli no leite cru e na\r\nágua utilizou-se a técnica do Número\r\nMais Provável (NMP) e para\r\na contagem de Pseudomonas sp.\r\nutilizou-se Ágar Para Isolamento de\r\nPseudomonas (PIA). Constataram-\r\n-se valores médios de 1,5NMP/mL e\r\n1,6NMP/mLde E. coli no leite e na\r\nágua, respectivamente, nas amostras\r\nprovenientes dos 9 tanques em que a\r\nágua utilizada não foiclorada por 12\r\nmeses. As amostras de leite e água\r\nprocedentes dos 9 tanques que receberam\r\nágua clorada durante a limpeza\r\npor 6 meses apresentaram em média\r\n1,8NMP/mL e < 1,1 NMP/mL de\r\nE.coli, respectivamente. A contagem\r\nmédia de Pseudomonas sp. nas amostras\r\nde água procedentes dos 9 tanques\r\nem que a água utilizada no processo\r\nde limpeza não recebeu cloração por\r\n6 meses e que posteriormente passou\r\na ser clorada foi 1,1x103UFC/mL e\r\n1,2x102UFC/mL, respectivamente.\r\nPor outro lado,amédia das contagens\r\nde Pseudomonas sp. foi de 9,8x104\r\nUFC/mL e 5,1x105 UFC/mL nas\r\namostras de leite procedentes dos tanques\r\nem que a água utilizada no processo\r\nde limpeza não recebeu cloração\r\npor 6 meses e que posteriormente\r\npassou a ser clorada, respectivamente,\r\no que indica que esta bactéria acessa o\r\nleite cru a partir de diferentes fontes\r\nde contaminação, além da água. Assim,\r\na cloração foi eficiente apenas\r\nna redução da contagem de E. coli e\r\nPseudomonas sp. na água.(AU)", "_i": "pt"}]

Neutrophil derived CSF1 induces macrophage polarization and promotes transplantation tolerance.

The colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) regulates the differentiation and function of tissue macrophages and determines the outcome of the immune response. The molecular mechanisms behind CSF1-mediated macrophage development remain to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate that neutrophil-derived CSF1 controls macrophage polarization and proliferation, which is necessary for the induction of tolerance. Inhibiting neutrophil production of CSF1 or preventing macrophage proliferation, using targeted nanoparticles loaded with the cell cycle inhibitor simvastatin, abrogates the induction of tolerance. These results provide new mechanistic insights into the developmental requirements of tolerogenic macrophages and identify CSF1 producing neutrophils as critical regulators of the immunological response.

[Factor XIII-guided treatment algorithm reduces blood transfusion in burn surgery]. / Algoritmo de tratamento guiado pelo fator XIII reduz a transfusão sanguínea na cirurgia de queimados.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Major burn surgery causes large hemorrhage and coagulation dysfunction. Treatment algorithms guided by ROTEM® and factor VIIa reduce the need for blood products, but there is no evidence regarding factor XIII. Factor XIII deficiency changes clot stability and decreases wound healing. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of factor XIII correction and its repercussion on transfusion requirements in burn surgery. METHODS: Randomized retrospective study with 40 patients undergoing surgery at the Burn Unit, allocated into Group A those with factor XIII assessment (n = 20), and Group B, those without assessment (n = 20). Erythrocyte transfusion was guided by a hemoglobin trigger of 10g.dL-1 and the other blood products by routine coagulation and ROTEM® tests. Analysis of blood product consumption included units of erythrocytes, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and fibrinogen. The coagulation biomarker analysis compared the pre- and post-operative values. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Group A (with factor XIII study) and Group B had identical total body surface area burned. All patients in Group A had a preoperative factor XIII deficiency, whose correction significantly reduced units of erythrocyte concentrate transfusion (1.95 vs. 4.05, p = 0.001). Pre- and post-operative coagulation biomarkers were similar between groups, revealing that routine coagulation tests did not identify factor XIII deficiency. There were no recorded thromboembolic events. Correction of factor XIII deficiency in burn surgery proved to be safe and effective for reducing perioperative transfusion of erythrocyte units.

Functional Characterization of Regulatory Macrophages That Inhibit Graft-reactive Immunity.

Macrophage accumulation in transplanted organs has long been recognized as a feature of allograft rejection1. Immunogenic monocytes infiltrate the allograft early after transplantation, mount a graft reactive response against the transplanted organ, and initiate organ rejection2. Recent data suggest that suppressive macrophages facilitate successful long-term transplantation3 and are required for the induction of transplantation tolerance4. This suggests a multidimensional concept of macrophage ontogeny, activation, and function, which demands a new roadmap for the isolation and analysis of macrophage function5. Due to the plasticity of macrophages, it is necessary to provide a methodology to isolate and characterize macrophages, depending on the tissue environment, and to define their functions according to different scenarios. Here, we describe a protocol for immune characterization of graft-infiltrating macrophages and the methods we used to functionally evaluate their capacity to inhibit CD8+ T proliferation and to promote CD4+Foxp3+ Treg expansion in vitro.

DC-SIGN(+) Macrophages Control the Induction of Transplantation Tolerance.

Tissue effector cells of the monocyte lineage can differentiate into different cell types with specific cell function depending on their environment. The phenotype, developmental requirements, and functional mechanisms of immune protective macrophages that mediate the induction of transplantation tolerance remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that costimulatory blockade favored accumulation of DC-SIGN-expressing macrophages that inhibited CD8(+) T cell immunity and promoted CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cell expansion in numbers. Mechanistically, that simultaneous DC-SIGN engagement by fucosylated ligands and TLR4 signaling was required for production of immunoregulatory IL-10 associated with prolonged allograft survival. Deletion of DC-SIGN-expressing macrophages in vivo, interfering with their CSF1-dependent development, or preventing the DC-SIGN signaling pathway abrogated tolerance. Together, the results provide new insights into the tolerogenic effects of costimulatory blockade and identify DC-SIGN(+) suppressive macrophages as crucial mediators of immunological tolerance with the concomitant therapeutic implications in the clinic.

A Missão Botânica de Moçambique (1942-1948): contribuições para o conhecimento da flora medicinal de Moçambique / The Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948): contributions to knowledge of the medicinal flora of Mozambique

O artigo revisita o espólio histórico-científico aduzido pela Missão Botânica de Moçambique (1942-1948) à guarda do Jardim Botânico Tropical do Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (Lisboa), destacando os cadernos de campo dos seus coletores, com o objetivo de identificar os usos medicinais tradicionais da flora moçambicana. Tendo-se coligido informação relativa a 71 taxa (setenta espécies e um género), identificou-se a utilização medicinal de 34 espécies presumivelmente ainda não reportada para Moçambique, entre as quais, cinco cujo uso terapêutico ainda não havia sido atribuído ao continente africano. No total registaram-se 58 utilizações presumivelmente ainda não relatadas em Moçambique.

This article reviews the historical and scientific findings of the Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948) under the Tropical Botanic Garden of the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, in Lisbon, highlighting the collectors’ field notes with the aim of identifying the traditional medicinal uses of Mozambican flora. Having collated information on 71 taxa (70 species and one genus), the medicinal usage of 34 species presumably not yet reported in Mozambique was identified, including five whose therapeutic use still had not yet been described in the African continent. Overall, 58 uses presumably not yet reported in Mozambique were recorded.

Assessment of lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine secretion in children exposed to arsenic.

Exposure of several human populations to arsenic has been associated with a high incidence of detrimental dermatological and carcinogenic effects. To date, studies examining the immunotoxic effects of arsenic in humans, and specifically in children, are lacking. Therefore, we evaluated several parameters of immunological status in a group of children exposed to arsenic through their drinking water. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 90 children (6 to 10 years old) were collected. Proportions of lymphocyte subpopulations, PBMC mitogenic proliferative response, and urinary arsenic levels were evaluated. Increased urine arsenic levels were associated with a reduced proliferative response to phytohemaglutinin (PHA) stimulation (P=0.005), CD4 subpopulation proportion (P=0.092), CD4/CD8 ratio (P=0.056), and IL-2 secretion levels (P=0.003). Increased arsenic exposure was also associated with an increase in GM-CSF secretion by mononucleated cells (P=0.000). We did not observe changes in CD8, B, or NK cell proportions, nor did we observe changes in the secretion of IL-4, IL-10, or IFN-gamma by PHA-activated PBMCs. These data indicate that arsenic exposure could alter the activation processes of T cells, such that an immunosuppression status that favors opportunistic infections and carcinogenesis is produced together with increased GM-CSF secretion that may be associated with chronic inflammation.