Optimisation of Polyphenols Extraction from Wild Bilberry Leaves-Antimicrobial Properties and Stability Studies.

Polyphenolic extracts from natural sources have received great interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. A method to reduce their variability is to use the design of experiments which allows a limited number of experiments to be performed while exploring the experimental space. Firstly, a 23-full factorial model was used to investigate the polyphenols extraction from wild bilberry leaves. Spectrophotometric data (the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, chlorophyll and radical scavenger activity) and extraction yield were used as responses, and six statistical models were determined depending on the two numerical factors (temperature and alcohol % of ethanol-water mixture) being significant (p < 0.05) in all cases. Numerical optimisation performed by Design Expert 13 software correlates well with the chemical profile determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the amount of the polyphenol. Afterwards, under the optimised conditions, an extract was prepared in three extraction steps for which composition, chemical stability and antimicrobial properties were evaluated. The antimicrobial potential of the extract was compared with that of the standard compounds (rutin and chlorogenic acid), and the results supported a synergistic effect of the extract components.

Polyphenols extract from grape pomace. Characterization and valorisation through encapsulation into mesoporous silica-type matrices.

We report the encapsulation of two grape pomace polyphenolic extracts into mesoporous MCM-41-type silica matrices (pristine and Zn or Mg heteroatom modified) to reduce the extract sensitivity and enhance its stability, while preserving the radical scavenger activity. Various grapes marc (Cabernet Saugvinon and Feteasca Neagra from the Black Sea region and commercially available grape skins powder) were used to prepare ethanolic extracts either through conventional extraction, or microwave-assisted procedure. The polyphenolic extracts composition was analysed by reversed phase-high pressure liquid chromatography and spectrometric determination of total polyphenols and ascorbic acid (using Folin Ciocalteu reagent), total flavonoids (by AlCl3 complexation), as well as total anthocyanin monomeric pigments content. The encapsulated extract into MCM-41 silica, as well as Zn-MCM-41 and Mg-MCM-41 matrices showed an enhanced radical scavenger activity assessed by DPPH procedure developed for solid samples. The cytocompatibility tests performed on HaCaT keratinocyte human cells demonstrated a good cytocompatibility for the Cabernet Saugvinon and grape skins extracts free and encapsulated into MCM-41-type matrices.

The Validation of a Spanish Version of the Multidimensional Inventory of Religious/Spiritual Well-Being in Mexican College Students.

After the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB) was validated as a reliable instrument for the Western European context it is primarily intended in this study to translate the measure into Spanish and adapt it for the Mexican culture. Furthermore we investigate whether spirituality/religiosity has a similar impact on indicators of personality and subjective well-being in Mexico as it does in samples drawn from Western European cultures. 190 students (99 females) from public and private universities in Guadalajara, all Mexican citizens, were involved in this study. We found strong evidential support for the six factor solution of the Original MI-RSWB in this Mexican population. By mirroring previous research the measure showed a highly satisfying internal consistency (α = .91 for the total score and .75 or higher for all six sub dimensions). Furthermore the total RSWB score was observed to be related with Eysenck's personality dimensions Extraversion (r = .24, p < .01), and Psychoticism (r = -.28, p < .001), although not with Neuroticism. There was also a positive correlation with Sense of Coherence (r = .31, p < .001). In conclusion, the dimensionality of RSWB and its associations with personality and subjective well-being was well supported in this first application within a Mexican cultural context.

The validation of a Spanish version of the multidimensional inventory of religious/spiritual well-being in Mexican college students

After the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB) was validated as a reliable instrument for the Western European context it is primarily intended in this study to translate the measure into Spanish and adapt it for the Mexican culture. Furthermore we investigate whether spirituality/religiosity has a similar impact on indicators of personality and subjective well-being in Mexico as it does in samples drawn from Western European cultures. 190 students (99 females) from public and private universities in Guadalajara, all Mexican citizens were involved in this study. We found strong evidential support for the six factor solution of the Original MI-RSWB in this Mexican population. By mirroring previous research the measure showed a highly satisfying internal consistency (α = .91 for the total score and .75 or higher for all six sub dimensions). Furthermore the total RSWB score was observed to be related with Eysenck's personality dimensions Extraversion (r = .24, p < .01), and Psychoticism (r = -.28, p < .001), although not with Neuroticism. There was also a positive correlation with Sense of Coherence (r = .31, p < .001). In conclusion, the dimensionality of RSWB and its associations with personality and subjective well-being was well supported in this first application within a Mexican cultural context (AU)

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[Laser needle acupuncture in women with dysmenorrhoea: a randomised controlled double blind pilot trial]. / Lasernadel-Akupunktur bei Frauen mit Dysmenorrhoe: Eine randomisierte kontrollierte doppelblinde Pilotstudie.

BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhoea is a common gynaecological disorder.It is treated symptomatically if it is not caused by any underlying disease. Acupuncture is successfully used for menstrual disorders but is associated with certain side effects such as pain. Laser needle acupuncture is a new, non-invasive procedure that might mimic the effects of acupuncture. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the effect of active laser needle acupuncture is superior to the effect of placebo laser needle acupuncture in women with dysmenorrhoea. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women aged 18-50 years and with a minimum menstrual pain of 4 out of 10 points on a visual analogue scale (VAS) were included in this randomised double blind trial and treated with laser needle acupuncture (Laserneedle Computer-System). Every woman was treated with the same 8 acupuncture points (SP6, LV3 and LI4 bilateral; CV3 and ST36 on the right) in 8 sessions of 20 min each, over a period of 3 menstrual cycles. The primary endpoint was successful pain reduction, defined as a 50% reduction of the mean menstrual pain between baseline and end of the study (calculated from those 2 menstrual days with the worst pain levels on the VAS). We compared real laser acupuncture with placebo laser acupuncture (no laser activity). RESULTS: 48 women, mean age 29.6 +/- 7.5 years, were included in the study (30 women in the placebo group, 18 in the verum group). In the real acupuncture group, the success rate was 16.7% (3/18), in the placebo group 20% (6/30). CONCLUSIONS: We could not find a significant advantage of laser needle acupuncture compared to placebo laser needle acupuncture treatment. Further investigations are recommended because laser needle treatment is non-invasive and allows double blind acupuncture studies.