Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Five Algae Cultivated in Fully Controlled Closed Systems.

In this study, the chemical composition and antioxidant profile of five edible macroalgae, Fucus vesiculosus, Palmaria palmata, Porphyra dioica, Ulva rigida, and Gracilaria gracilis, cultivated in fully controlled closed systems, were determined. Protein, carbohydrates, and fat contents ranged between 12.4% and 41.8%, 27.6% and 42.0%, and 0.1% and 3.4%, respectively. The tested seaweeds presented considerable amounts of Ca, Mg, K, Mn, and Fe, which reinforce their favorable nutritional profile. Regarding their polysaccharide composition, Gracilaria gracilis and Porphyra dioica were rich in sugars common to agar-producing red algae, and Fucus vesiculosus was composed mainly of uronic acids, mannose, and fucose, characteristic of alginate and fucoidans, whereas rhamnose and uronic acid, characteristic of ulvans, predominated in Ulva rigida. Comparatively, the brown F. vesiculosus clearly stood out, presenting a high polysaccharide content rich in fucoidans, and higher total phenolic content and antioxidant scavenging activity, determined by DPPH and ABTS. The remarkable potential of these marine macroalgae makes them excellent ingredients for a wide range of health, food, and industrial applications.

Inhibition of TRPM8 by the urinary tract analgesic drug phenazopyridine.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Phenazopyridine (PAP) is an over-the-counter drug widely used to provide symptomatic relief of bladder pain in conditions such as cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Whereas the analgesic effect of PAP has been attributed to a local effect on the mucosa of the lower urinary tract (LUT), the molecular targets of PAP remain unknown. We investigated the effect of PAP on pain-related Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels expressed in sensory neurons that innervate the bladder wall. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effects of PAP on the relevant TRP channels (TRPV1, TRPA1, TRPM8, TRPM3) expressed in HEK293 or CHO cells was investigated using Fura-2-based calcium measurements and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Activity of PAP on TRPM8 was further analysed using Fura-2-based calcium imaging on sensory neurons isolated from lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of mice. KEY RESULTS: PAP rapidly and reversibly inhibits responses of TRPM8 expressed in HEK293 cells to cold and menthol, with IC50 values between 2 and 10 µM. It acts by shifting the voltage dependence of channel activation towards positive potentials, opposite to the effect of menthol. PAP also inhibits TRPM8-mediated, menthol-evoked calcium responses in lumbosacral DRG neurons. At a concentration of 10 µM, PAP did not significantly affect TRPA1, TRPV1, or TRPM3. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: PAP inhibits TRPM8 in a concentration range consistent with PAP levels in the urine of treated patients. Since TRPM8 is expressed in bladder afferent neurons and upregulated in patients with painful bladder disorders, TRPM8 inhibition may underlie the analgesic activity of PAP.

Exploring Freeze-Drying as Strategy to Enhance Viability of Faecalibacterium duncaniae DSM 17677 upon Aerobic Storage and Gastrointestinal Conditions

Faecalibacterium duncaniae is an intestinal commensal bacterium proposed as a next-generation probiotic due to its promising outcomes in the treatment and prevention of several human diseases, which demonstrate its multiple contributions to the host's health. However, its strict anaerobic nature has created several hurdles in the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and biotherapeutic products. Herein, we explored freeze-dried formulations containing prebiotics, cryoprotectants, and antioxidant agents as a technological strategy to enhance the viability of F. duncaniae DSM 17677 upon aerobic storage and gastrointestinal tract conditions. Our results indicate that freeze-dried F. duncaniae in a matrix containing inulin, sucrose, cysteine, and riboflavin survived at levels higher than 106 CFU/g and around 105 CFU/g after 1 and 4 days of aerobic storage at room temperature, respectively. Thus, the freeze-dried formulation with inulin, sucrose, cysteine, and riboflavin presents as a protective strategy to improve F. duncaniae viability under aerobic environments. Nevertheless, incorporation of a suitable coating aimed at protecting F. duncaniae against the detrimental gastrointestinal passage effects is urgently required, given its high susceptibility to extreme acidic pH values and bile.

Development and Characterization of a Novel Sustainable Probiotic Goat Whey Cheese Containing Second Cheese Whey Powder and Stabilized with Thyme Essential Oil and Sodium Citrate.

Probiotic goat whey cheeses with added second cheese whey powder (SCWP) were developed, resulting in creamy and spreadable products. The products contained Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis, as well as thyme essential oil and sodium citrate. Matrices of probiotic whey cheeses, with and without additives, were produced and stored at 5 °C for 21 days. Microbial and chemical profiles were evaluated weekly. The composition of the optimum matrix, formulated with whey cheese, probiotic culture, SCWP, thyme essential oil and sodium citrate (WCPSTC) was, expressed in % (w/w): protein (10.78 ± 0.08), fat (7.59 ± 0.03), dry matter (25.64 ± 0.13), ash (2.81 ± 0.02) and lactose (3.16 ± 0.04). Viable cell numbers of both probiotic cultures in matrix WCPSTC remained above 107 CFU g-1. This finding is of the utmost importance since it proves that both probiotic bacteria, citrate and thyme essential oil can be combined in order to increase the shelf-life and functional value of dairy products. All matrices' pH values decreased during storage, yet only matrix WCPSTC remained above 5.0 pH units. The results indicated that the development of a probiotic whey cheese incorporating a dairy by-product, SCWP, is possible without compromising its chemical, microbiological or sensorial stability.

TRPM3 Is Expressed in Afferent Bladder Neurons and Is Upregulated during Bladder Inflammation.

The cation channel TRPM3 is activated by heat and the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate. TRPM3 is expressed on sensory neurons innervating the skin, where together with TRPV1 and TRPA1, it functions as one of three redundant sensors of acute heat. Moreover, functional upregulation of TRPM3 during inflammation contributes to heat hyperalgesia. The role of TRPM3 in sensory neurons innervating internal organs such as the bladder is currently unclear. Here, using retrograde labeling and single-molecule fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization, we demonstrate expression of mRNA encoding TRPM3 in a large subset of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the mouse bladder, and confirm TRPM3 channel functionality in these neurons using Fura-2-based calcium imaging. After induction of cystitis by injection of cyclophosphamide, we observed a robust increase of the functional responses to agonists of TRPM3, TRPV1, and TRPA1 in bladder-innervating DRG neurons. Cystometry and voided spot analysis in control and cyclophosphamide-treated animals did not reveal differences between wild type and TRPM3-deficient mice, indicating that TRPM3 is not critical for normal voiding. We conclude that TRPM3 is functionally expressed in a large proportion of sensory bladder afferent, but its role in bladder sensation remains to be established.

Health benefits and bioavailability of marine resources components that contribute to health - what's new?

The strict connection between nutritional intake and health leads to a necessity of understanding the beneficial and protective role of healthy nutrients and foods. The marine environment is a source of a plethora of many organisms with unique properties, extremely rich in bioactive compounds and with remarkable potential for medical, industrial and biotechnological applications. Marine organisms are an extreme valuable source of functional ingredients such as polysaccharides, vitamins, minerals, pigments, enzymes, proteins and peptides, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), phenolic compounds and other secondary metabolites that prevent or have the potential to treat several diseases given their cardiovascular protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, anti-proliferative and anti-diabetic activities. This review provides an overview on the current advances regarding health benefits of marine bioactive compounds on several diseases and on human gut microbiota. In addition, it is discussed a crucial factor that is related to the effectiveness of these compounds on human organism namely its real bioavailability.

A spider derived peptide, PnPP-19, induces central antinociception mediated by opioid and cannabinoid systems

Background: Some peptides purified from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer have been identified as potential sources of drugs for pain treatment. In this study, we characterized the antinociceptive effect of the peptide PnPP-19 on the central nervous system and investigated the possible involvement of opioid and cannabinoid systems in its action mechanism. Methods: Nociceptive threshold to thermal stimulation was measured according to the tail-flick test in Swiss mice. All drugs were administered by the intracerebroventricular route.Results: PnPP-19 induced central antinociception in mice in the doses of 0.5 and 1 µg. The non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (2.5 and 5 µg), µ-opioid receptor antagonist clocinnamox (2 and 4 µg), δ-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole (6 and 12 µg) and CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (2 and 4 µg) partially inhibited the antinociceptive effect of PnPP-19 (1 µg). Additionally, the anandamide amidase inhibitor MAFP (0.2 µg), the anandamide uptake inhibitor VDM11 (4 µg) and the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin (20 µg) significantly enhanced the antinociception induced by a low dose of PnPP-19 (0.5 µg). In contrast, the κ-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (10 µg and 20 µg) and the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630 (2 and 4 µg) do not appear to be involved in this effect. Conclusions: PnPP-19-induced central antinociception involves the activation of CB1 cannabinoid, µ- and δ-opioid receptors. Mobilization of endogenous opioids and cannabinoids might be required for the activation of those receptors, since inhibitors of endogenous substances potentiate the effect of PnPP-19. Our results contribute to elucidating the action of the peptide PnPP-19 in the antinociceptive pathway.(AU)

A spider derived peptide, PnPP-19, induces central antinociception mediated by opioid and cannabinoid systems

Some peptides purified from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer have been identified as potential sources of drugs for pain treatment. In this study, we characterized the antinociceptive effect of the peptide PnPP-19 on the central nervous system and investigated the possible involvement of opioid and cannabinoid systems in its action mechanism. Methods Nociceptive threshold to thermal stimulation was measured according to the tail-flick test in Swiss mice. All drugs were administered by the intracerebroventricular route. Results PnPP-19 induced central antinociception in mice in the doses of 0.5 and 1 g. The non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (2.5 and 5 g), -opioid receptor antagonist clocinnamox (2 and 4 g), -opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole (6 and 12 g) and CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (2 and 4 g) partially inhibited the antinociceptive effect of PnPP-19 (1 g). Additionally, the anandamide amidase inhibitor MAFP (0.2 g), the anandamide uptake inhibitor VDM11 (4 g) and the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin (20 g) significantly enhanced the antinociception induced by a low dose of PnPP-19 (0.5 g). In contrast, the -opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (10 g and 20 g) and the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630 (2 and 4 g) do not appear to be involved in this effect. Conclusions PnPP-19-induced central antinociception involves the activation of CB1 cannabinoid, - and -opioid receptors. Mobilization of endogenous opioids and cannabinoids might be required for the activation of those receptors, since inhibitors of endogenous substances potentiate the effect of PnPP-19. Our results contribute to elucidating the action of the peptide PnPP-19 in the antinociceptive pathway.

Tomografia de coerência óptica na avaliação do retinoblastoma macular / Optical coherence tomography in the evaluation of macular retinoblastoma

O retinoblastoma é conhecido como o mais comum dos tumores intraoculares na infância. Além dos métodos convencionais de diagnóstico, podemos acrescentar a tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) como um instrumento relevante na avaliação seletiva do comprometimento retiniano, dos tumores pequenos e médios do polo posterior. Os autores apresentam dois casos de retinoblastoma nos quais a OCT pode demonstrar as características morfológicas do tumor ao diagnóstico e as modificações estruturais do tecido tumoral e da retina adjacente, que ocorreram, em cada caso, após distintas modalidades de tratamento.

The retinoblastoma is known as the most common intraocular malignancy of the childhood. In addition to other diagnostic methods the optical coherence Tomography (OCT) may be considered an important tool in the evaluation of selective involvement of the retina by small and medium sized tumors at the posterior pole of the eye. The authors present two cases of retinoblastoma in which the OCT was able to demonstrate the morphological features of the tumor at diagnosis and the structural changes in tumor tissue and in adjacent retina that occurred, in each case, after different modalities of treatment.

Gas chromatography - optical fiber detector for assessment of fatty acids in urban soils.

Fatty acids have been used as biomarkers of the microbial community composition of soils and they are usually separated and quantified by gas-chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The aim of this study was to develop, validate and apply a methodology based on gas chromatography coupled to optical fiber detection (GC-OF) for screening five fatty acids used as indicators of fungal and bacterial communities in urban soils. The performance of the GC-OF methodology (optical fiber detector at 1,550 nm) was evaluated by comparison with the GC-FID methodology and it was found that they were comparable in terms of linear range, detection limit and analytical errors. Besides these similar analytical characteristics, the GC-OF is much cheaper than the GC-FID methodology. Different concentrations were determined for each fatty acid indicator which in turn varied significantly between the soil samples analyzed from Lisbon ornamental gardens. Additionally, the GC-OF showed a great potential as alternative for determination of eleven or more fatty acids in urban soils.

Giant placental chorioangioma: a rare cause of fetal hydrops.

Giant choriangiomas are rare placental tumours, associated with a high prevalence of pregnancy complications and a poor perinatal outcome. Neonatal consequences include severe microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and hydrops. The associated high perinatal death rate (30-40%) has led to a number of prenatal therapeutic interventions with limited success in most cases. The authors present a case of non-immune fetal hydrops caused by a giant chorioangioma, diagnosed at 27 weeks of gestational age. Despite tocolytic therapy, the baby was born prematurely (28 weeks of gestational age) and required transfusion of blood derivatives, intensive phototherapy and exchange transfusion. She had an uncomplicated recovery and was discharged home in the second month of life. The authors emphasise the need to consider chorioangioma as a cause of non-immune fetal hydrops and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia.

Degradation of phenols in olive oil mill wastewater by biological, enzymatic, and photo-Fenton oxidation.

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW) environmental impacts minimization have been attempted by developing more effective processes, but no chemical or biological treatments were found to be totally effective to mitigate their impact on receiving systems. This work is the first that reports simultaneously the efficiency of three different approaches: biological treatment by two fungal species (Trametes versicolor or Pleurotus sajor caju), enzymatic treatment by laccase, and chemical treatment by photo-Fenton oxidation on phenols removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Those treatments were performed on OOMW with or without phenol supplement (p-coumaric, vanillin, guaiacol, vanillic acid, or tyrosol). OOMW samples resulted from treatments were extracted for phenols using liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Treatment with T. versicolor or P. sajor caju were able to remove between 22% and 74% and between 8% and 76% of phenols, respectively. Treatment by laccase was able to reduce 4% to 70% of phenols whereas treatment by photo-Fenton oxidation was responsible for 100% phenols reduction. DISCUSSION: Range of phenol degradation was equivalent between T. versicolor, P. sajor caju and laccase for p-coumaric, guaiacol, caffeic acid, and tyrosol in supplemented OOMW, which enhances this enzyme role in the biological treatment promoted by these two species. CONCLUSIONS: Phenols were removed more efficiently by photo-Fenton treatment than by biological or enzymatic treatments. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Use of fungi, laccase, or photo-Fenton presents great potential for removing phenols from OOMW. This should be further assessed by increasing the application scale and the reactor configurations effect on the performance, besides a toxicity evaluation of treated wastewater in comparison to raw wastewater.

Avaliação oftalmológica neonatal - proposta de um protocolo / Ophthalmological exams in newborns: propose of guidelines

Objetivo: Avaliar as características dos recém-nascidos examinados no berçário da Maternidade de Campinas (SP), no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2001, e propor um novo protocolo de avaliação oftalmólogica. Local: Berçário da Maternidade de Campinas. Método: Estudo prospectivo que inclui todas as avaliações oftalmológicas realizadas, utilizando-se o protocolo em vigor desde 1999. Foram incluídos no programa de triagem para retinopatia da prematuridade e examinados entre a 4ª e a 6ª semanas de vida, todos os RN menores de 34 semanas e/ou 2.000g ao nascimento. Além disso, também foram avaliados RN com suspeita de toxoplasmose congênita, afecções oculares primárias e outras indicações, a critério do pediatra. Resultados: Em um total de 9.314 nascidos vivos, neste período, foram avaliados 160 RN, sendo que 98 deles (61,25 por cento) foram incluídos no programa de rastreamento de retinopatia da prematuridade. Destes, 14 apresentaram a doença em vários estágios. Oito apresentaram a doença em estágio I e 2 em estágio II, com involução espontânea. Quatro apresentaram a doença em estágio III, sendo que dois deles apresentaram a forma limiar, sendo submetidos a crioterapia, e dois regrediram sem tratamento. Nenhum evoluiu para estágio IV e V. Os outros 62 exames foram para avaliar diversas patologias, oculares ou não, incluindo a elucidação diagnóstica de doenças sistêmicas. Conclusão: Diante do grande número de crianças avaliadas para pesquisa de retinopatia da prematuridade com exame normal, optamos por limitar o rastreamento nos menores de 1.500 g e/ou 32 semanas ao nascimento. Também foi introduzida a obrigatoriedade de avaliação de todas as suspeitas de infecção congênita, síndromes genéticas em investigação e afecções oculares primárias.

Trauma ocular por acidentes de trânsito / Ocular trauma by car crashing

Preocupados com a gravidade e a freqüência do trauma ocular, especialmente devido aos acidentes de tränsito, os autores estudaram 33 olhos vitrectomizados, os resultados obtidos e as complicaçöes. O descolamento de retina foi o responsável, na maioria das vezes, pelos insucessos cirúrgicos. Sugeram que a vitrectomia seja efetuada o mais precoce possível, no sentido näo só de reconstruir o segmento anterior, como evitar a proliferaçäo vitreo-retiniana

Patologia corio-vitreo-retiniana por desaceleraçäo rápida / Corio-vitreo-retinal hemorrhage related to fast desaceleration

Os autores autores apresentam dois pacientes portadores de hemorragia corio-vitreo-retiniana relacionada com a desaceleraçäo rápida provocada pela queda livre em parque de diversöes. É de se esperar que estes hematomas reabsorvam espontaneamente. É discutida a possível etiologia desta nova entidade e o tratamento realizado nestes 2 casos

Pólipo umbilical: resquício cutâneo do ducto onfalomesentérico: relato de caso / Umbilical omphalomesenteric duct polyps: a case report

Descrevem-se os achados clínicos e histológicos de pólipo umbilical numa criança de dois anos. Trata-se de malformaçäo rara, resquício do ducto onfalomesentérico que deve ser diferenciado, à clínica, do granuloma piogênico. É muito importante que se examinen, histologicamente, todas as lesöes retiradas da regiäo umbilical. Mal formaçöes do tubo digestivo, potencialmente graves, estäo freqüentemente associadas ao pólipo umbilical e só se manifestam, via de regra, no adulto jóvem