Development of a Green, Quick, and Efficient Method Based on Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Followed by HPLC-DAD for the Analysis of Bioactive Glycoalkaloids in Potato Peel Waste.

α-Solanine and α-chaconine are the two most predominant glycoalkaloids (GAs) present in potato. Potato peel contains a high concentration of GAs, which are especially interesting for application in the pharmaceutical industry due to their different beneficial properties (such as anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antipyretic, antiviral, fungicide, and antibiotic activities, among others); so, potato peel waste can be valorized by extracting these biologically active compounds. For this, a green, quick, and efficient miniaturized analytical approach based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) combined with HPLC-DAD was developed to quantify α-solanine and α-chaconine in potato peel. Some parameters of the extraction were optimized, including the extraction method, the type of solvent, and the sample/solvent ratio, by a three-factor, three-level (33) full factorial experimental design. The optimal extraction conditions were obtained with UAE using methanol as a solvent and a sample/solvent ratio of 1:10 (w/v, g/mL). The analytical greenness metric for sample preparation (AGREEprep) tool was used to assess the greenness of the methods used. The tool revealed an acceptable green analysis, with 0.61 points. The method was validated and applied to the evaluation of GAs in the peel of 15 commercial varieties of potato. The amount of glycoalkaloids found in the samples evaluated ranged from 143 to 1273 mg/kg and from 117 to 1742 mg/kg dry weight for α-solanine and α-chaconine, respectively. These results reveal the important variability that exists between potato varieties; so, their analysis is of great importance to select the most suitable ones for biovalorization (e.g., the Amandine and Rudolph varieties, with around 3000 mg/kg, in total, of both GAs). To provide higher stability to the peel during storage, freeze-drying or a medium-temperature drying process resulted preferable to avoid GA degradation. Overall, this study will contribute to the expansion of the future biovalorization of potato peel waste as well as provide a powerful analytical tool for GA analysis.

Spices Volatilomic Fingerprinting-A Comprehensive Approach to Explore Its Authentication and Bioactive Properties.

Volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) present in different spices can provide distinct analytical biosignatures related to organoleptic properties and health benefits. This study aimed to establish the volatilomic fingerprint of six of the most consumed spices all over the world (saffron (Crocus sativus L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), black pepper, (Piper nigrum L.), sweet paprika (Capsicum annuum L.), and curry (a mix of different herbs and spices)). Based on headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, this is a powerful strategy to explore and establish the spice's volatile pattern and unravel the potential health benefits related to the most important VOMs identified in each spice. This comprehensive knowledge will help in the definition of their authenticity, while simultaneously protecting against potential frauds and adulterations. A total of 162 VOMs were identified. Semi-quantitative assessments revealed that terpenoids and sesquiterpenoids amounted to the major volatile class in the investigated spices, except for cinnamon, where carbonyl compounds are the major group. Most of the studied spices comprised key characteristics of aroma and health bioactive compounds, e.g., dihydrojuneol in saffron, cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon, cuminaldehyde in cumin and curry, and caryophyllene in black pepper. The principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) successfully discriminated the investigated spices, being α-cubebene, 3-methyl butanal, ß-patchoulene and ß-selinene, the most important VOMs (highest VIP's) that contributed to its discrimination. Moreover, some VOMs have a high influence on the spice's bioactive potential, helping to prevent certain diseases including cancer, inflammatory-related diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

High throughput analytical approach based on µQuEChERS combined with UHPLC-PDA for analysis of bioactive secondary metabolites in edible flowers.

Mallow blue (Malva sylvestris L.), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) and nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.), are common edible flowers rich in bioactive secondary metabolites (BASMs) whose use in sophisticated gastronomy present currently as increasing trend. In this study the BASMs profile of these edible flowers was established using an emerging green extraction technique, µQuEChERS followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detection system (UHPLC-PDA). After validation the µQuEChERS/UHPLC-PDA methodology allow to identify that apigenin and epigallocatechin gallate are the most abundant BASMs in mallow blue flowers, while catechin and dicaffeoylquinic acid are predominant in hibiscus flowers, and myricitrin and dicaffeoylquinic acid in nasturtium flowers. Total polyphenol content is the highest in the extract of hibiscus. Nasturtium shows the greatest radical scavenging activity. The results revealed that these flowers constitute a potential source of BASMs with different bioactive properties suggesting its use in design of new functional foods.

Miniaturized and modified QuEChERS method with mesostructured silica as clean-up sorbent for pyrrolizidine alkaloids determination in aromatic herbs.

This work proposes the miniaturization and modification of the QuEChERS strategy using different large pore mesostructured silicas, non-modified and modified with amino groups (NH2), as dispersive clean-up sorbents for multi-component extraction of 21 pyrrolizidine alkaloids from different aromatic herbs, combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The procedure was miniaturized by reducing the amounts of sample (0.2 g), solvents (2 mL), clean-up sorbents (25 mg sorbent + 150 mg MgSO4) and partitioning salts (0.65 g) employed. Best results were achieved using mesostructured silicas (LP-MS-NH2) than conventional PSA. The method was validated (overall recoveries 73-105%) and applied to the analysis of 17 samples. All the samples were contaminated with PAs (average concentration 262 µg/Kg). Thyme and basil samples were the most contaminated, whereas rosemary was the least. Lasiocarpine, senecivernine N-oxide and europine N-oxide were the main PAs that contributed to their contamination.

Implementation of Universal Colorectal Cancer Screening for Lynch Syndrome in Hispanics Living in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Puerto Rico and third among Hispanics in the USA. Up to 2-4% of colorectal cancer cases are a result of Lynch syndrome (LS), a hereditary cancer syndrome caused by a germline mutation in at least one of the DNA mismatch repair genes. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of LS in colorectal tumors during the first 15-months after the implementation of universal tumor-based screening for LS in Puerto Rico. METHODS: A total of 317 colorectal tumors were evaluated in a large private pathology laboratory from September 2014 to December 2015. Clinical characteristics were obtained from the pathology reports. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the magnitude of association (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) between absent MMR protein expression and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Most cases (93.4%) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry; 11.8% (35 of 296) had deficient mismatch repair protein expression. While 29 of the 317 cases were subjected to PCR-based microsatellite instability analysis of which 10.3% (3 of 317) had microsatellite instability. In total, 11.0% of the tumors were reported MMR deficient. These tumors were more likely from females and more likely localized in the proximal colon compared to those with proficient MMR expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data is consistent with the results from other studies including US Hispanics, where approximately 10% of Hispanic individuals with colorectal cancer have microsatellite instability. Our results support universal tumor-based screening for LS among Hispanics in accordance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.

Nomograms for morbidity and mortality after oncologic colon resection in the enhanced recovery era: results from a multicentric prospective national study.

PURPOSE: Predicting postoperative complications and mortality is important to plan the surgical strategy. Different scores have been proposed before to predict them but none of them have been yet implemented into the routine clinical practice because their difficulties and low accuracy with new surgical strategies and enhanced recovery. The main aim of this study is to identify risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality after colonic resection (CR) without protective stomas, in order to develop a comprehensive, up-to-date, simple, reliable, and applicable model for the preoperative assessment of patients with colon cancer. METHODS: Multivariable analysis was performed to identify risk factors for 60-day morbidity and mortality. Coefficients derived from the regression model were used in the nomograms to predict morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Three thousand one hundred ninety-three patients from 52 hospitals were included into the analysis. Sixty-day postoperative complications rate was 28.3% and the mortality rate was 3%. In multivariable analysis the independent risk factors for postoperative complications were age, male gender, liver and pulmonary diseases, obesity, preoperative albumin, anticoagulant treatment, open surgery, intraoperative complications, and urgent surgery. Independent risk factors for mortality were age, preoperative albumin anticoagulant treatment, and intraoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for morbidity and mortality after CR for cancer were identified and two easy predictive tools were developed. Both of them could provide important information for preoperative consultation and surgical planning in the time of enhance recovery.

Agenda feminista e serviços de cuidado infantil: brasil, argentina e uruguai / Agenda féministe et politiques de garde d´enfants: brésil, argentine et uruguay / Agenda feminista y servicios de cuidado infantil: brasil, argentina y uruguay / Feminist agenda and child care services: brazil, argentina and uruguay

Resumo Neste artigo, investigamos o nível de aderência dos serviços de cuidado de crianças de zero a três anos à agenda feminista de políticas públicas. Para isso, realizamos um estudo de casos qualitativo de três países latino-americanos (Brasil, Argentina e Uruguai), durante o "giro à esquerda". Analisando três indicadores parametrizados (elegibilidade, cobertura e tipo de jornada), identificamos avanços maiores no Uruguai, mais restritos na Argentina e intermediários no Brasil. A variação positiva foi maior para elegibilidade e cobertura, do que para tipo de jornada. Concluímos que essa assimetria na variação dos indicadores sugere que os avanços decorrem principalmente do reconhecimento dos direitos das crianças à educação, e, secundariamente, do compromisso com a igualdade de gênero.

Résumé Cet article examine le niveau d'adhésion à l'agenda féministe des politiques publiques concernant les services de garde d'enfants de zéro à trois ans. A ce fin, nous avons mené une étude de cas qualitative dans trois pays d'Amérique latine (Brésil, Argentine et Uruguay) à l'époque de leur "tournant à gauche". En analysant trois indicateurs paramétrés (éligibilité), couverture et modalités d'accueil), nous avons constaté que les progrès les plus importants concernaient l'Uruguay et les moindres l'Argentine alors qu'au Brésil ils étaient. La variation positive était plus significative. Pour l'égibilité et la couverture que pour les modalités d'accueil. Nous avons conclu que cette asymétrie dans la variation des indicateurs suggère que les progrès découlent plutôt de la reconnaissance des droits de l'enfant à l'éducation, et, secondairement, de l'engagement en faveur de l'égalité de genre.

Resumen En este artículo, investigamos el nivel de adhesión de los servicios de cuidado infantil (cero a tres años) a la agenda feminista de políticas públicas. Para esto, realizamos un estudio de casos cualitativo de tres países latinoamericanos (Brasil, Argentina y Uruguay), durante el "giro a la izquierda". Analizando tres indicadores parametrizados (elegibilidad, cobertura y tipo de jornada), logramos encontrar avances mayores en Uruguay, más restrictos en Argentina e intermedios en Brasil. Además, los resultados fueron más positivos para a elegibilidad y cobertura que para el tipo de jornada. Concluimos que esa diferencia apunta que los avances que ocurrieron están, primero, relacionados al reconocimiento de los derechos de la infancia y, secundariamente, al compromiso con la igualdad de género.

Abstract In this article, we investigate the level of adherence of childcare services (zero to three years of age) to the feminist public policy agenda. To do so, we conducted a qualitative case study of three Latin American countries (Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay), during the "left turn". Analyzing three parameterized indicators (eligibility, coverage, and type of school day), we identified greater progress in Uruguay, more restricted in Argentina and intermediate in Brazil. The positive variation was greater for eligibility and coverage, than for type of school day. We concluded that the results are related with the recognition of the right to childhood, firstly, and with commitment to gender equality, secondly.

Comparison of high-throughput microextraction techniques, MEPS and µ-SPEed, for the determination of polyphenols in baby food by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography.

In this study, two different high-throughput microextraction techniques, microextraction by packed sorbents (MEPS) and micro solid phase extraction (µ-SPEed®), were evaluated and compared, regarding the performance criteria, for the isolation of polyphenols from baby foods prior to their determination by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). To achieve the best performance, influential parameters affecting extraction efficiency (including type of sorbent, number of extraction cycles, pH, elution solvent and elution volume) were systematically studied and optimized. To enable an effective comparison, selectivity, linear dynamic range, method detection (LODs) and quantification limits (LOQs), accuracy, precision and extraction yields, were determined and discussed for both techniques. Both methods provided the analytical selectivity required for the analysis of polyphenols in baby foods. However, µ-SPEed® sample treatment in combination with UHPLC-PDA has demonstrated to be more sensitive, selective and efficient than MEPS. Appropriate linearity in solvent and matrix-based calibrations, very low LODs and LOQs, ranging between 1.37 and 13.57 µg kg-1 and 4.57 - 45.23 µg kg-1, respectively, suitable recoveries (from 67 to 97%) and precision (RSD values < 5%) were achieved for the selected analytes by µ-SPEed®/UHPLC-PDA. Finally, the validated methodologies were applied to different commercial baby foods. Gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, rutin, naringenin and myricetin are the most dominant polyphenols present in the studied baby food samples. The proposed methodology revealed a promising approach to evaluate the nutritional quality of this kind of products.

PML is recruited to heterochromatin during S phase and represses DAXX-mediated histone H3.3 chromatin assembly.

The incorporation of the histone H3 variant, H3.3, into chromatin by the H3.3-specific chaperone DAXX and the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor ATRX is a critical mechanism for silencing repetitive DNA. DAXX and ATRX are also components of promyelocytic nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), which have been identified as sites of H3.3 chromatin assembly. Here, we use a transgene array that can be visualized in single living cells to investigate the mechanisms that recruit PML-NB proteins (i.e. PML, DAXX, ATRX, and SUMO-1, SUMO-2 and SUMO-3) to heterochromatin and their functions in H3.3 chromatin assembly. We show that DAXX and PML are recruited to the array through distinct SUMOylation-dependent mechanisms. Additionally, PML is recruited during S phase and its depletion increases H3.3 deposition. Since this effect is abrogated when PML and DAXX are co-depleted, it is likely that PML represses DAXX-mediated H3.3 chromatin assembly. Taken together, these results suggest that, at heterochromatin, PML-NBs coordinate H3.3 chromatin assembly with DNA replication, which has important implications for understanding how transcriptional silencing is established and maintained.

Bi-functionalized mesostructured silicas as reversed-phase/strong anion-exchange sorbents. Application to extraction of polyphenols prior to their quantitation by UHPLC with ion-trap mass spectrometry detection.

Hybrid mesostructured silicas with wormhole-like pore structure were synthesized and bi-functionalized with n-octyl (C8) and quaternary ammonium (NR4+) groups to obtain new sorbent materials for dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) of polyphenols. Due to their nature of being both a reversed-phase and a strong anion-exchanger, the materials display mixed-mode retention mechanism. During the synthesis, the functionalization conditions were varied to obtain materials with different functionalization degree. The resulting materials (denoted as HMS-RPC8-SAX-1, HMS-RPC8-SAX-2 and HMS-RPC8-SAX-3) show high surface area, wormhole-like framework and controlled pore size. They were evaluated for multicomponent extraction of 22 polyphenols, including phenolic acids, flavonoids and stilbenes, from spiked juice samples. The sample extracts were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry. The adsorption capability, the amount of sorbent, the eluent and the elution volume were optimized. Best performance was achieved by using HMS-RPC8-SAX-2, which is the material with the highest fraction of NR4+ groups. This material has a large extraction capability and provides high recovery values of the target analytes (70-101%) as a result of its hydrophobic and anion-exchange interactions. The detection limits for polyphenols in juice range from 1 to 560 ng mL-1. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of dispersive solid-phase extraction of polyphenols from juice samples using a novel sorbent based on the bi-functionalization of mesostructured silica with n-octyl and quaternary ammonium groups, followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis. Due to the sorbent nature of being both a reversed-phase and strong anion-exchanger, the material displays mixed mode retention mechanism that improves its extraction capability.

Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction of Polyphenols from Juice and Smoothie Samples Using Hybrid Mesostructured Silica Followed by Ultra-high-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ion-Trap Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

A wormhole-like mesostructured silica was synthesized and modified with octadecylsilane (C18) groups. The resulting hybrid material (HMS-C18) was characterized and evaluated as sorbent for simultaneous extraction of 20 polyphenols from mixed fruit-vegetable juices and smoothies by dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE). The samples were first subjected to solvent extraction followed by dSPE procedure. The extraction step was optimized and combined with a reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled to ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-IT-MS/MS), which was also optimized. HMS-C18 showed high potential to extract and purify the target analytes, being more effective than commercial C18 amorphous silica. The proposed method was validated for both samples, obtaining average recoveries from 57% to 99% with relative standard deviations lower than 9%. Its applicability in the analysis of commercial mixed fruit-vegetable juices and smoothies revealed mainly contents of rutin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, and naringin in the samples analyzed.

Diversity of Epigenetic Features of the Inactive X-Chromosome in NK Cells, Dendritic Cells, and Macrophages.

In females, the long non-coding RNA Xist drives X-chromosome Inactivation (XCI) to equalize X-linked gene dosage between sexes. Unlike other somatic cells, dynamic regulation of Xist RNA and heterochromatin marks on the inactive X (Xi) in female lymphocytes results in biallelic expression of some X-linked genes, including Tlr7, Cxcr3, and Cd40l, implicated in sex-biased autoimmune diseases. We now find that while Xist RNA is dispersed across the nucleus in NK cells and dendritic cells (DCs) and partially co-localizes with H3K27me3 in bone marrow-derived macrophages, it is virtually absent in plasmacytoid DCs (p-DCs). Moreover, H3K27me3 foci are present in only 10-20% of cells and we observed biallelic expression of Tlr7 in p-DCs from wildtype mice and NZB/W F1 mice. Unlike in humans, mouse p-DCs do not exhibit sex differences with interferon alpha production, and interferon signature gene expression in p-DCs is similar between males and females. Despite the absence of Xist RNA from the Xi, female p-DCs maintain dosage compensation of six immunity-related X-linked genes. Thus, immune cells use diverse mechanisms to maintain XCI which could contribute to sex-linked autoimmune diseases.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of uncommon rectal lesions. / Microcirugía endoscópica transanal en el tratamiento de lesiones rectales atípicas.

INTRODUCTION: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) was developed as a less aggressive alternative treatment for rectal lesions (mainly adenomas and adenocarcinomas). However, its use for other rectal lesions has become more frequent, trying to reduce the morbidity associated with more invasive techniques. The aim of this study is to describe our experience in the use of TEM in other rectal lesions. METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study including patients operated with TEM (from June 2008 to December 2016) for the treatment of rectal lesions different from adenomas or adenocarcinomas. RESULTS: Among the 138 patients treated by TEM in our department, 10 patients were operated on for rectal lesions other than adenomas or adenocarcinomas. Rectal lesions were 3neuroendocrine tumours, a neuroendocrine tumour metastasis, a rectal stenosis, a cloacogenic polyp, an endometrioma, a retrorrectal tumour, a presacral abscess and a lesion in the rectovaginal septum. Mean operative time was 72min and postoperative stay was 4.2 days. Only one patient needed a reoperation, due to rectal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: TEM could be a useful tool for the treatment of rectal lesions different from adenomas or adenocarcinomas, potentially decreasing the morbidity associated with more aggressive surgical techniques.

Propuesta de una guía de análisis para el control de calidad de envases metálicos de aerosol de 25,4 mm de diámetro de boca / Proposal of an analysis guide for quality control of metal containers used in aerosol products

Teniendo en cuenta que no existe una normativa actualizada nacional para el control de calidad de los envases metálicos de aerosol que se utilizan en la industria farmacéutica y la cosmética, en este trabajo se desarrolló una guía de análisis para aplicarla de forma rutinaria a los envases con boca de 25,4 mm de diámetro. El primer paso consistió en realizar una revisión documental de las normativas del Instituto Colombiano de Normas Técnicas (Icontec), la Consumer Specialty Products Associations Aerosol Guide (CSPA), la Federación Europea de Aerosoles (FEA), la European Standards (EN) y el Instituto Argentino de Normalización (IRAM). Luego se seleccionaron los análisis de mayor criticidad y practicidad que fueran aplicables a la industria del llenado de aerosoles y se confirmó su viabilidad técnica en diferentes envases metálicos con un diámetro de boca de 25,4 mm, con el fin de desarrollar un protocolo unificado para llevar a cabo el control de calidad de estos envases metálicos.

This study was conducted with the objective of developing an analysis guide for quality control of metal containers used for filling of aerosols in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, taking into account that at the national level there are no regulations for quality control of containers metal for aerosol. First, we conducted a literature review of the regulations of Instituto Colombiano de Normas Técnicas (Icontec), Consumer Specialty Products Association Guide (CSPA), European Aerosol Federation (FEA), European Standards EN, and Instituto Argentino de Normalización (IRAM). Subsequently, more critical analysis and practicality that are applicable to aerosol filling industry were selected and technical feasibility was confi rmed for various metal packaging with a mouth diameter of 25.4 mm, to develop a unified protocol quality control of these metal containers.

Adaptação da escala de Empowerment Psicológico de Spreitzer numa amostra portuguesa / Adaptation of Spreitzer's psychological Empowerment Scale in a Portuguese sample / Adaptación de la escala de Empowerment Psicológico de Spreitzer en una muestra portuguesa

O Empowerment Psicológico é um constructo motivacional pela garantia de condições que aumentem a motivação para a realização das tarefas, com um forte sentido de autoeficácia. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a estrutura fatorial da escala de Empowerment Psicológico numa amostra portuguesa de 230 indivíduos, funcionários de universidade pública portuguesa. Os resultados da análise fatorial confirmatória, da escala de 12 itens, mostram uma estrutura de quatro fatores, com elevada consistência interna, o que sugere a sua pertinência para aplicação à população portuguesa. Reitera-se a premência em continuar a estudar esta temática, sobretudo a sua relação com os demais processos organizacionais...

Psychological empowerment is a motivational construct, by ensuring conditions that increase motivation to perform tasks, with a strong sense of self-efficacy. The present study aimed to examine the factor structure of the psychological empowerment scale in a Portuguese sample of 230 individuals, employees of a public university in Portugal. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis of the 12 items on the scale show a structure of four factors, with high internal consistency, which suggests appropriateness for application to a Portuguese population. We reiterate the urgent need to further examine this issue, namely, its relationship with other organizational processes...

El Empowerment Psicológico es un constructo motivacional, garantizando las condiciones que aumentan la motivación para llevar a cabo las tareas, con un fuerte sentido de auto-eficacia. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la estructura factorial de la escala de Empowerment Psicológico en una muestra portuguesa de 230 trabajadores de una universidad pública portuguesa. Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio, de la escala de 12 ítems, mostraron una estructura de cuatro dimensiones y una elevada fiabilidad, por lo que puede ser considerada apropiada para su aplicación en el contexto portugués. Del mismo modo, nuevos estudios son necesarios sobre esta temática especialmente por su relación con aspectos organizacionales significativos en las empresas...

What is being researched in rectal cancer? / ¿Qué se investiga en cáncer de recto?

INTRODUCTION: Clinical evidence has a more significant role in medical specialties than in surgery. Rectal cancer (CR) is no exception. This paper explores what CR-related subjects are being investigated at the present time in a quantitative and qualitative way and analyzes this information to know what possible answers clinical research could give us in the future. METHODS: The data collection was carried out in April 2014 and was based on 3 sources: 2 institutional clinical trials registries -American (clinicaltrials.gov) and European (EU Clinical Trials Register)- and a survey given to members of the Asociación Española de Coloproctología (AECP). The obtained studies were exported to a database designed especially for this review, which included a number of descriptive elements that would allow the cataloging of the different studies. The AECP survey results were analyzed separately. RESULTS: There are currently 216 clinical trials ongoing related to CR. Two-thirds are primarily conducted by oncologists. Nearly a third are surgical. The research focuses on improving preoperative treatment: new drugs, new schemes of chemo-radiotherapy (usually induction or consolidation schemes) or optimization of radiotherapy and its effects. Surgical clinical trials are related to robotics, laparoscopy, stoma, low colorectal anastomosis, distal CR and local treatment. CONCLUSION: Most of the current clinical trials ongoing on CR are analyzing aspects of chemo-radiotherapy and its effects. A third focus on purely surgical issues.

Evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer for determination of steroids in goat milk by matrix solid phase dispersion.

A molecularly imprinted polymer-matrix solid-phase dispersion methodology for simultaneous determination of five steroids in goat milk samples was proposed. Factors affecting the extraction recovery such as sample/dispersant ratio and washing and elution solvents were investigated. The molecularly imprinted polymer used as dispersant in the matrix solid-phase dispersion procedure showed high affinity to steroids, and the obtained extracts were sufficiently cleaned to be directly analyzed. Analytical separation was performed by micellar electrokinetic chromatography using a capillary electrophoresis system equipped with a diode array detector. A background electrolyte composed of borate buffer (25mM, pH 9.3), sodium dodecyl sulfate (10mM) and acetonitrile (20%) was used. The developed MIP-MSPD methodology was applied for direct determination of testosterone (T), estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (17ß-E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and progesterone (P) in different goat milk samples. Mean recoveries obtained ranged from 81% to 110%, with relative standard deviations (RSD)≤12%. The molecularly imprinted polymer-matrix solid-phase dispersion method is fast, selective, cost-effective and environment-friendly compared with other pretreatment methods used for extraction of steroids in milk.

Comparison of different mesoporous silicas for off-line solid phase extraction of 17ß-estradiol from waters and its determination by HPLC-DAD.

Functionalized (SBA-C18 and SM-C18) and non-functionalized (SBA-15 and SM) mesoporous silicas were then examined as sorbents for solid-phase extraction of 17ß-estradiol in aqueous media. Experiments were run in order to test critical factors affecting the procedure extraction efficiency, including the type of sorbent, the analyte concentration, the solvent and volume used for elution and the sample volume. Among the prepared materials, SBA-C18 had the highest adsorption affinity towards 17ß-estradiol and under optimized conditions (200mg of sorbent, 150 mL of water sample, elution with 3 × 2 mL of methanol) this sorbent proved good extraction capacity and elution efficiency for this hormone from aqueous media (recovery near 100%). To evaluate the analytical applicability of the proposed method, it was applied to the determination of 17ß-estradiol in drinking water by high performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. Calibration curves were shown to be linear between 1.25 and 100 mg L(-1)with correlation coefficients ≥0.999 (n=5) for 17ß-estradiol. The instrumental detection and quantitation limits calculated were 0.38 and 1.25 mg L(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation obtained values were ≤3% and the mean recoveries obtained were of 82%. The results suggest that SBA-C18 is a promising material for the off-line solid phase extraction of 17ß-estradiol from waters.

Evaluación de la normatividad nacional e internacional aplicada al control de calidad de envases para aerosol / Assessment of national and international standards of quality control applied to aerosol containers

El crecimiento progresivo de la industria de los aerosoles, se debe en gran medida a la efectividad de este tipo de envase para contener, proteger, conservar y dosificar el producto. Actualmente, se le han agregado algunos elementos que influyen notablemente en la decisión final, pues permiten que estos envases sean económicos, ergonómicos, amigables con el medioambiente y con buena apariencia. La tendencia del crecimiento de la industria del aerosol se ha extendido a todos los sectores de consumo, principalmente para el cuidado personal, el cuidado del hogar, productos farmacéuticos para uso humano y veterinario y productos alimenticios. Gracias al esfuerzo de empresas maquiladoras en búsqueda de nuevas oportunidades, hoy Colombia cuenta con maquinaria e insumos para producir aerosoles con calidad internacional. Dada la diversidad de proveedores de envases, necesarios para cubrir la demanda, es indispensable establecer pautas para el control de la calidad de los envases, pues ello incide directamente en la calidad del producto final. En el presente trabajo se revisaron y evaluaron las normas más representativas, del ámbito nacional e internacional, para el control de calidad de envases metálicos para aerosol, con el fin de identificar las pruebas aplicables al sector industrial tanto farmacéutico como cosmético.

The progressive growth of the aerosol industry is due largely to the effectiveness of this type of packaging to contain, protect, preserve and dispense the product. Currently, some elements have been added in order to influence the final decision, they allow these containers are economical, ergonomic, environmentally friendly and good looking. The growth trend of the aerosol industry has spread to all sectors of consumption, mainly for personal care, home care, pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use, and food products. Thanks to the efforts of industries maquiladoras in search of new opportunities, Colombia currently has machinery and inputs to produce aerosols with international quality. Given the diversity of packaging suppliers, needed to meet demand, it is essential to establishing guidelines for quality control of packaging as this directly impacts the quality of the final product. In this paper we reviewed and assessed most representative standards, nationally and internationally, for the quality control of metal aerosol containers, in order to identify the tests applicable to both pharmaceutical industry as a cosmetic.

Preliminary study of the anticancer applications of mesoporous materials functionalized with the natural product betulinic acid.

Dehydrated MCM-41 (S1) was functionalized under nitrogen with 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane (CPTS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) by grafting in toluene at 80 °C over 48 h to give the corresponding materials S2 and S3, respectively. Subsequently, S2 and S3 were suspended in methanol and reacted in a nitrogen atmosphere with betulinic acid (BA) for 48 h at 65 °C (in the presence of the triethylamine of S2) to give the BA-functionalized materials S4 and S5. All materials studied were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, nitrogen gas sorption, multinuclear MAS NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, UV spectroscopy, IR, SEM, and TEM. To study the release of BA, S4 and S5 were suspended in solutions simulating various body pH conditions (pH 7.4, 5.5, and 3.0). Results of the quantification of BA release by HPLC for S4 show a pH-dependent and very slow BA release following a logarithmic tendency, while S5 behaves differently, also pH-dependent but, in this case, fast release of BA which requires only days for total release of the therapeutic compound. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of all synthesized materials against various cancer cell lines was studied. The results show the absence of an antiproliferative effect on the surfaces without BA S1-S3, while an antiproliferative effect was observed with S4 and S5 and was attributed to the release of BA in the medium.