Preparation of films based on reticulated fish gelatin containing garlic essential oil.

Agro-industrial co-products, such as fish gelatin, stand out for their capacity in forming biopolymeric films, being biocompatible and non-toxic; however, its hydrophilicity poses a challenge. Essential oils, rich in bioactives, attract research interest aiming to enhance the protective barrier of films and enable their application in packaging. This study produced films based on cross-linked Nile tilapia skin gelatin, incorporating garlic essential oil. Gelatin obtained through partial collagen hydrolysis from the fish skin and cross-linked with gallic acid had hydroxyproline content of 10.02 g 100 g-1 and gel strength of 287 g, which were consistent with other studies. Oil extraction used supercritical CO2 as a solvent and ethanol as a cosolvent, following a factorial experimental design, evaluating the extraction temperature (40 °C and 70 °C) and cosolvent ratio (1:1 and 1:3), with three central points. Extraction was successful, with higher yields on a dry basis at 70 °C (88.35 %), using a 1:1 cosolvent ratio. Films incorporated with oil exhibited lower water vapor permeability (WVP) than those with only cross-linked gelatin (1.59 (g m-1 s-1 Pa-1) 1011). The film with the most suitable tensile strength (19.07 MPa), elongation (120.91 %), and WVP (1.09 (g m-1 s-1 Pa-1) 1011) properties contained garlic oil extracted at the central point (55 °C and 1:2). Thermal analysis indicated increased melting temperatures in films with added oil, suggesting low thermal degradation. These results suggest that garlic oil addition can improve the properties of fish gelatin-based films, making them promising for biodegradable packaging.

Fish attractors when resources abound: prevalence of juveniles and lack of assemblage structure in a field experiment in the Amazon floodplain / Atratores de peixes quando os recursos são abundantes: prevalência de juvenis e falta de estrutura da assembleia em um experimento de campo na planície de inundação amazônica

Abstract Floating structures, both natural and artificial, attract fish by providing shelter, feeding areas, and nesting sites. Occupancy can be either more permanent, leading to a gradual gathering of the assembly, or transient, occurring randomly. The ability of an attractor to hold a fish assemblage may depend on the availability of habitat resources in the environment. New artificial attractors are more valuable when natural ones are scarce. Additionally, fish characteristics play a role; young and small fishes may need new habitat for shelter more than adult fish. As aquatic herbaceous areas are abundant during high water, coinciding with the period of fish reproduction, they are particularly relevant for juveniles. We constructed fish attractors composed of natural materials to investigate the structure of fish assemblages during the flood of an Amazonian floodplain lake. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that assembly processes during the flood period would be random, with a predominance of juveniles in the attractors. We collected fish at intervals of 5, 15, and 30 days, resulting in 39 observations, and classified them as either adult or juvenile. Species composition was compared among treatments using Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA). The assembly process was tested through species co-occurrence patterns employing null models and the C-score index. The proportion of juveniles and adults was compared using a Chi-square test. Species composition remained consistent throughout the experiment. The assembly was random, with a prevalence of juveniles, possibly serving only as temporary shelter and feeding areas. Our study contributes to understanding the role of habitat availability for floodplain fishes during high waters. The results suggest that floating attractors and new habitats may be more valuable for the juveniles than adult fish and can be used as a management strategy for population recovery, especially when floating herbaceous habitats are scarce.

Resumo As estruturas flutuantes, naturais ou artificiais, atraem os peixes, fornecendo abrigo, áreas de alimentação e locais de nidificação. A ocupação pode ser mais permanente, resultando em um recolhimento gradativo da assembleia, ou transitória, ocorrendo aleatoriamente. A capacidade de um atrator de manter uma assembleia de peixes pode depender da disponibilidade de recursos de habitat no ambiente. Novos atratores artificiais são mais valiosos quando os naturais são escassos. Além disso, as características dos peixes desempenham um papel, já que peixes jovens e pequenos podem necessitar de novos habitats como abrigo mais do que peixes adultos. Como as áreas com herbáceas aquáticas são abundantes durante as cheias, coincidindo com o período de reprodução dos peixes, elas são especialmente relevantes para peixes juvenis. Construímos atratores de peixes compostos de material natural para investigar a estrutura das assembleias de peixes durante a cheia de um lago de várzea amazônico, a fim de testar a hipótese de que durante o período de cheia, os processos de montagem seriam aleatórios e com predominância de juvenis nos atratores. Os peixes foram coletados em intervalos de 5, 15 e 30 dias, resultando em 39 observações, e classificados como adultos ou juvenis. A composição de espécies foi comparada entre os tratamentos usando uma Análise de Coordenadas Principais (PCoA). O processo de montagem foi testado por meio de padrões de coocorrência de espécies usando modelos nulos e o índice C-score. A proporção de jovens e adultos foi comparada usando um teste Qui-quadrado. A composição de espécies permaneceu a mesma ao longo do experimento. A montagem da assembleia foi aleatória com prevalência de juvenis nos atratores, que possivelmente serviam apenas como abrigo temporário e áreas de alimentação. Nosso estudo contribui para entender o papel da disponibilidade de novos habitats para peixes de várzea durante a cheia. Os resultados sugerem que atratores flutuantes e novos habitats podem ser mais valiosos para os peixes jovens do que para adultos e podem ser usados como estratégia de manejo para a recuperação populacional, especialmente quando habitats de herbáceas flutuantes são escassos.

Methodologies for Assessing Pancreatic Lipase Catalytic Activity: A Review.

Obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions with a concerning increasing trend. Regarded as one of the main sources of energy, lipids can also represent a big part of an unnecessary intake of calories and be, therefore, directly related to the problem of obesity. Pancreatic lipase is an enzyme that is essential in the absorption and digestion of dietary fats and has been explored as an alternative for the reduction of fat absorption and consequent weigh loss.Literature describes a great variability of methodologies and experimental conditions used in research to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory activity of compounds against pancreatic lipase. However, in an attempt to choose the best approach, it is necessary to know all the reaction conditions and understand how these can affect the enzymatic assay.The objective of this review is to understand and summarize the methodologies and respective experimental conditions that are mainly used to evaluate pancreatic lipase catalytic activity.156 studies were included in this work and a detailed description of the most commonly used UV/Vis spectrophotometric and fluorimetric instrumental techniques are presented, including a discussion regarding the differences found in the parameters used in both techniques, namely enzyme, substrate, buffer solutions, kinetics conditions, temperature and pH.This works shows that both UV/Vis spectrophotometry and fluorimetry are useful instrumental techniques for the evaluation of pancreatic lipase catalytic activity, presenting several advantages and limitations, which make the choice of parameters and experimental conditions a crucial decision to obtain the most reliable results.

Volatile Composition of Fortification Grape Spirit and Port Wine: Where Do We Stand?

Port wine's prominence worldwide is unequivocal and the grape spirit, which comprises roughly one fifth of the total volume of this fortified wine, is also a contributor to the recognized quality of this beverage. Nonetheless, information about the influence of the grape spirit on the final aroma of Port wine, as well as its volatile composition, is extremely limited. Moreover, the aroma characteristics of Port wines are modulated mainly by their volatile profiles. Hence, this review presents a detailed overview of the volatile composition of the fortification spirit and Port wine, along with the methodologies employed for their characterization. Moreover, it gives a general overview of the Douro Demarcated Region (Portugal) and the relevance of fortification spirit to the production of Port wine. As far as we know, this review contains the most extensive database on the volatile composition of grape spirit and Port wine, corresponding to 23 and 208 compounds, respectively. To conclude, the global outlook and future challenges are addressed, with the position of the analytical coverage of the chemical data on volatile components discussed as crucial for the innovation centered on consumer preferences.

Linking Pedobacter lusitanus NL19 volatile exometabolome with growth medium composition: what can we learn using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry?

Microbial metabolomics allows understanding and to comprehensively analyse metabolites, and their related cellular and metabolic processes, that are produced and released to the extracellular environment under specific conditions. In that regard, the main objective of this research is to understand the impact of culture media changes in the metabolic profile of Pedobacter lusitanus NL19 (NL19) and Pedobacter himalayensis MTCC 6384 (MTCC6384) and respective influence on the production of biotechnologically relevant compounds. Solid-phase microextraction combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry with time-of-flight analyser (GC × GC-ToFMS) was applied to comprehensively study the metabolites produced by NL19 and MTCC6384 both in tryptic soy broth 100% (TSB100) and tryptic soy broth with 25% casein peptone (PC25). A total of 320 metabolites were putatively identified, which belong to different chemical families: alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers, hydrocarbons, ketones, nitrogen compounds, sulphur compounds, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. Metabolites that were statistically different from the control (sterile medium) were selected allowing for the construction of the metabolic profile of both strains. A set of 80 metabolites was tentatively associated to the metabolic pathways such as the metabolism of fatty acids, branched-chain aminoacids, phenylalanine, methionine, aromatic compounds, and monoterpene and sesquiterpene biosynthesis. This study allowed to better understand how slight changes of the culture media and thus the composition of nutrients impair the metabolic profile of bacteria, which may be further explored for metabolomics pipeline construction or biotechnological applications.

Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. edulis): A comprehensive review on the nutritional value, phytochemical profile and associated health effects.

Passiflora is a highly diverse genus where taxonomic lack of consensus remains. This may be the reason why numerous studies do not specify to the infraspecific level the plant material used or lack consistency in the nomenclature of botanical formae of Passiflora edulis. Ultimately, this may contribute to inaccurate chemical composition and health effects attributed to different Passiflora edulis species and formae. Hence, this review aims to overcome these challenges by exploring the phytochemical profile, specific nutritional value and potential health benefits of purple passion fruit (PPF). PPF is often consumed fresh for its pulp (including seeds) or juice, either directly or added to food dishes. It is also used industrially to produce a wide range of products, where peels and seeds are abundant by-products, most often discarded or used in low-value applications. Herein, in a perspective of integral valorisation of the fruit, the potential use of all PPF fractions (peel, pulp and seeds) is discussed as a source of important macro and micronutrients, adequate to integrate a balanced and healthy diet. In addition, the phytochemical profile of such fractions is also discussed along with the associated in vitro biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal) and in vivo beneficial effects in the management of several diseases (asthma, hypertension, osteoarthritis, diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis). In summary, this review gathers the current knowledge on the nutritional and phytochemical composition of PPF and highlights the potential of using all fractions as a source of ingredients in food formulations that promote health and well-being. At the same time, it also contributes to defining sustainable strategies for an integrated valorisation of this natural product.

Chromatographic-Based Platforms as New Avenues for Scientific Progress and Sustainability.

Chromatography was born approximately one century ago and has undergone outstanding technological improvements in innovation, research, and development since then that has made it fundamental to advances in knowledge at different levels, with a relevant impact on the well-being and health of individuals. Chromatography boosted a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the complexity and diversity of human-environment interactions and systems, how these interactions affect our life, and the several societal challenges we are currently facing, namely those related to the sustainability of our planet and the future generations. From the life sciences, which allowed us to identify endogenous metabolites relevant to disease mechanisms, to the OMICS field, nanotechnology, clinical and forensic analysis, drug discovery, environment, and "foodprint", among others, the wide range of applications of today's chromatographic techniques is impressive. This is fueled by a great variability of powerful chromatographic instruments currently available, with very high sensitivity, resolution, and identification capacity, that provide a strong basis for an analytical platform able to support the challenging demands of the postgenomic and post COVID-19 eras. Within this context, this review aims to address the great utility of chromatography in helping to cope with several societal-based challenges, such as the characterization of disease and/or physiological status, and the response to current agri-food industry challenges of food safety and sustainability, or the monitoring of environmental contamination. These are increasingly important challenges considering the climate changes, the tons of food waste produced every day, and the exponential growth of the human population. In this context, the principles governing the separation mechanisms in chromatography as well the different types and chromatographic techniques will be described. In addition, the major achievements and the most important technological advances will be also highlighted. Finally, a set of studies was selected in order to evince the importance of different chromatographic analyses to understand processes or create fundamental information in the response to current societal challenges.

Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography as a Powerful Strategy for the Exploration of Broas Volatile Composition.

Broa is a Portuguese maize bread with characteristic sensory attributes that can only be achieved using traditional maize varieties. This study intends to disclose the volatile compounds that are mainly associated with the baking process of broas, which can be important contributors to their aroma. Twelve broas were prepared from twelve maize flours (eleven traditional maize varieties and one commercial hybrid). Their volatile compounds were analyzed by GC×GC-ToFMS (two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry) for an untargeted screening of the chemical compounds mainly formed during baking. It was possible to identify 128 volatiles that belonged to the main chemical families formed during this stage. Among these, only 16 had been previously detected in broas. The most abundant were furans, furanones, and pyranones, but the most relevant for the aroma of broas were ascribed to sulfur-containing compounds, in particular dimethyl trisulfide and methanethiol. Pyrazines might contribute negatively to the aroma of broas since they were present in higher amounts in the commercial broa. This work constitutes the most detailed study of the characterization of broas volatile compounds, particularly those formed during the Maillard reaction. These findings may contribute to the characterization of other maize-based foodstuffs, ultimately improving the production of foods with better sensory features.

Metabolic profile of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis interactions within dual-species biofilms.

Within the oral cavity, the ability of Candida species to adhere and form biofilms is well-recognized, especially when Candida albicans is considered. Lately, a knowledge gap has been identified regarding dual-species communication of Candida isolates, as a way to increase virulence, with evidences being collected to support the existence of interactions between C. albicans and Candida parapsilosis. The present work evaluated the synergistic effect of the two Candida species, and explored chemical interactions between cells, evaluating secreted extracellular alcohols and their relation with yeasts' growth and matrix composition. A total of four clinical strains of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis species, isolated from single infections of different patients or from co-infections of a same patient, were tested. It was found that dual-species biofilms negatively impacted the growth of C. parapsilosis and their biofilm matrix, in comparison with mono-species biofilms, and had minor effects on the biofilm biomass. Alcohol secretion revealed to be species- and strain-dependent. However, some dual-species cultures produced much higher amounts of some alcohols (E-nerolidol and E, E-Farnesol) than the respective single cultures, which proves the existence of a synergy between species. These results show evidence that interactions between Candida species affect the biofilm matrix, which is a key element of oral biofilms.

Aroma Clouds of Foods: A Step Forward to Unveil Food Aroma Complexity Using GC × GC.

The human senses shape the life in several aspects, namely well-being, socialization, health status, and diet, among others. However, only recently, the understanding of this highly sophisticated sensory neuronal pathway has gained new advances. Also, it is known that each olfactory receptor cell expresses only one type of odorant receptor, and each receptor can detect a limited number of odorant substances. Odorant substances are typically volatile or semi-volatile in nature, exhibit low relative molecular weight, and represent a wide variety of chemical families. These molecules may be released from foods, constituting clouds surrounding them, and are responsible for their aroma properties. A single natural aroma may contain a huge number of volatile components, and some of them are present in trace amounts, which make their study especially difficult. Understanding the components of food aromas has become more important than ever with the transformation of food systems and the increased innovation in the food industry. Two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ToFMS) seems to be a powerful technique for the analytical coverage of the food aromas. Thus, the main purpose of this review is to critically discuss the potential of the GC × GC-based methodologies, combined with a headspace solvent-free microextraction technique, in tandem with data processing and data analysis, as a useful tool to the analysis of the chemical aroma clouds of foods. Due to the broad and complex nature of the aroma chemistry subject, some concepts and challenges related to the characterization of volatile molecules and the perception of aromas will be presented in advance. All topics covered in this review will be elucidated, as much as possible, with examples reported in recent publications, to make the interpretation of the fascinating world of food aroma chemistry more attractive and perceptive.

Mapping Aspergillus niger Metabolite Biomarkers for In Situ and Early Evaluation of Table Grapes Contamination.

The Aspergillus niger exometabolome was recently investigated using advanced gas chromatography in tandem with multivariate analysis, which allowed a metabolite biomarker pattern to be proposed. Microbial metabolomics patterns have gained enormous relevance, mainly due to the amount of information made available, which may be useful in countless processes. One of the great challenges in microbial metabolomics is related to applications in more complex systems of metabolomics information obtained from studies carried out in culture media, as complications may occur due to the dynamic nature of biological systems. Thus, the main objective of this research was to evaluate the applicability of the A. niger metabololite biomarkers pattern for in situ and early evaluation of table grapes contamination, used as study model. A. niger is a ubiquitous fungus responsible for food contamination, being reported as one of the main agents of the black mold disease, a serious post-harvest pathology of table grapes. This work included analysis from 1 day of growth time of pure A. niger cultures, A. niger cultures obtained from previously contaminated grapes, and finally, an in situ solid-phase microextraction (SPME) approach directly on previously contaminated table grapes. Supervised multivariate analysis was performed which revealed that after 1 day of inoculation it was possible to detect A. niger biomarkers, which can be extremely useful in making this type of method possible for the rapid detection of food contamination. The results obtained confirm the potential applicability of the pattern of A. niger biomarkers for early detection of the fungi (after 1 day of contamination), and may be further explored for access food susceptibility to fungi contamination, based on direct analysis of the food item.

Insights on Single-Dose Espresso Coffee Capsules' Volatile Profile: From Ground Powder Volatiles to Prediction of Espresso Brew Aroma Properties.

Single-dose coffee capsules have revolutionized the coffee market, fueling espresso coffee popularity and offering access to a wide selection of coffee blends. Nevertheless, scarce information related to coffee powder and brew's combined volatile characterization is available. In this study, it is hypothesized that coffee brew aroma characteristics can be predicted based on coffee powder's volatile composition. For this, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection (GC × GC-ToFMS) was used. The data were combined via chemometric tools to characterize in depth the volatile composition of eight blends of capsule-coffee powder and respective espresso brews, simulating the consumer's perception. A total of 390 volatile compounds were putatively identified, 100 reported for the first time in roasted coffee or brews. Although the same chemical families were determined among the coffee powders and espresso brews, a different volatile profile was determined for each matrix. The Pearson correlation of coffee powders and respective brews allowed to identify 15 volatile compounds, mainly terpenic and esters recognized by their pleasant notes, with a strong relationship between the amounts present in both matrices. These compounds can be key markers to predict the volatile aroma potential of an espresso brew when analyzing the coffee powder.

HS-SPME Gas Chromatography Approach for Underivatized Acrylamide Determination in Biscuits.

Acrylamide (AA) is a food contaminant in thermally processed products that is object of tight control. A simple and easy-to-apply methodology for routine monitoring of AA levels in food products could allow producers to be players in the control of their own products. In this work, a simple methodology for AA quantification without derivatization was developed for biscuits, for which the benchmark levels recommended by EFSA are 350 µg/kg, and 150 µg/kg for biscuits for infants and young children. Headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used in 120 mL screwed-cap vials with a carboxen/polydimetylsiloxane fiber, 4 g of biscuits, and 10 mL of water during 15 min at room temperature under stirring. The addition of 30 mL of propanol under stirring during 15 min at room temperature and 15 min at 60 °C was used to promote AA transfer to the headspace. The fiber exposure was 45 min. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis allowed to obtain an external calibration curve at m/z 71, with linearity R2 > 0.99 and precision RSD < 9%. The detection and quantification limits were 27.4 µg/kg and 91.5 µg/kg, respectively. The methodology was successfully used in biscuits with lower AA amount, where mitigation strategies (asparaginase or pectate) were applied.

Metabolic Phenotypes in Asthmatic Adults: Relationship with Inflammatory and Clinical Phenotypes and Prognostic Implications.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease that affects individuals of all ages. It has a high prevalence and is associated with high morbidity and considerable levels of mortality. However, asthma is not a single disease, and multiple subtypes or phenotypes (clinical, inflammatory or combinations thereof) can be detected, namely in aggregated clusters. Most studies have characterised asthma phenotypes and clusters of phenotypes using mainly clinical and inflammatory parameters. These studies are important because they may have clinical and prognostic implications and may also help to tailor personalised treatment approaches. In addition, various metabolomics studies have helped to further define the metabolic features of asthma, using electronic noses or targeted and untargeted approaches. Besides discriminating between asthma and a healthy state, metabolomics can detect the metabolic signatures associated with some asthma subtypes, namely eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic phenotypes or the obese asthma phenotype, and this may prove very useful in point-of-care application. Furthermore, metabolomics also discriminates between asthma and other "phenotypes" of chronic obstructive airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or Asthma-COPD Overlap (ACO). However, there are still various aspects that need to be more thoroughly investigated in the context of asthma phenotypes in adequately designed, homogeneous, multicentre studies, using adequate tools and integrating metabolomics into a multiple-level approach.

Chemical Characterization of Sambucus nigra L. Flowers Aqueous Extract and Its Biological Implications.

The main goal of this study was to chemically characterize an aqueous S. nigra flower extract and validate it as a bioactive agent. The elderflower aqueous extraction was performed at different temperatures (50, 70 and 90 °C). The extract obtained at 90 °C exhibited the highest phenolic content and antiradical activity. Therefore, this extract was analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC-MS, which allowed the identification of 46 compounds, being quercetin and chlorogenic acid derivatives representative of 86% of the total of phenolic compounds identified in hydrophilic fraction of the aqueous extract. Naringenin (27.2%) was the major compound present in the lipophilic fraction. The antiproliferative effects of the S. nigra extract were evaluated using the colon cancer cell lines RKO, HCT-116, Caco-2 and the extract's antigenotoxic potential was evaluated by the Comet assay in RKO cells. The RKO cells were the most susceptible to S. nigra flower extract (IC50 = 1250 µg mL-1). Moreover, the extract showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis. These results show that S. nigra-based extracts can be an important dietary source of bioactive phenolic compounds that contribute to health-span improving life quality, demonstrating their potential as nutraceutical, functional foods and/or cosmetic components for therapeutic purposes.

Sustainable Valorization of Sambucus nigra L. Berries: From Crop Biodiversity to Nutritional Value of Juice and Pomace.

Improvement of dietary and ecological biodiversity, namely by exploring autochthonous varieties, is a key point to the construction of a more sustainable food system and planetary health. However, the environmental sustainability continues to face huge challenges, reflecting the importance of achieving a better understanding about the functional role of biodiversity in ecosystems. Thus, the main objective of this research is to contribute to the sustainable valorization of Sambucus nigra L. berries through a comprehensive approach to evaluate the effects of elderberry's cultivar, harvest year, and plantation field on the physicochemical berry composition. Moreover, the nutritional value of elderberry juice and respective dried pomace was determined. This complementary information is of huge utility for the rational and, as much as possible, integral use of elderberries. The harvest year, followed by field and the interaction of harvest × field, accounted for the highest impact on the berry's physicochemical parameters, indicating the importance of the combined impact of the macro- and mesoclimate conditions on plant metabolism. Elderberry juice and dried pomace are a good source of carbohydrates (ca. 12 and 82%, respectively) and have low amounts of fat (≤2.5%), making them low-energy foods. Dried pomace may also represent a potential alternative source of vegetal protein (ca. 6%).

A Complexidade da intervenção social segundo gênero e escolaridade do doente renal crónico / The complexity of social intervention according to gender and education of chronic kidney disease patients

A elevada prevalência da doença renal crónica e a relevância social do seu tratamento exigem um aprofundamento do conhecimento sobre a população doente, tendo em conta a sua complexidade holística. O estudo pretendeu analisar os níveis de complexidade no processo de intervenção social com pessoas com doença renal crónica numa perspetiva de gênero e de escolaridade. A amostra integrou 584 doentes com idades compreendidas entre os 19 e os 93 anos, maioritariamente do sexo masculino, casados e com o 1.º ciclo ensino básico. Os participantes, com diagnóstico de doença renal crónica, foram avaliados através de um protocolo que inclui um questionário sociodemográfico e a Matriz de Complexidade Associada ao Processo de Intervenção Social com Doentes Renais Crónicos (MCAPIS_DRC). Encontrou-se uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre os três níveis de complexidade avaliados e as variáveis sexo (p = 0,002, phi = 0,146) e escolaridade (p > 0,001, phi = 0,277). Verificou-se, igualmente, uma interação entre a escolaridade e o índice de complexidade consoante o sexo (F(5, 572) = 6,647 p = < 0,001, ƞp2 = 0,113). As mulheres apresentaram maiores pontuações no índice e as pessoas com maiores níveis de escolaridade pontuam menos no índice. A evidência permite ter uma abordagem diferenciadora na avaliação e intervenção social, priorizando grupos e situações problema.

The high prevalence of chronic kidney disease and the social relevance of its treatment require a deeper knowledge concerning this sick population, taking into account its overall complexity. The study aimed to analyze the levels of complexity in the social intervention process with people with chronic kidney disease from a gender and educational perspective. The sample included 584 patients aged between 19 and 93 years, mostly male, married and with the 1st cycle of primary education completed. Participants, diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, were assessed using a protocol that includes a sociodemographic questionnaire and The Matrix of Complexity Associated with the Process of Social Intervention with Chronic Kidney Disease Patients (MCAPIS_DRC). A statistically significant association was found between the three levels of complexity assessed and the variables gender (p=0.002, phi=0.146) and education (p>0.001, phi=0.277). There was also an interaction between education and the complexity index according to sex (F (5, 572) =6.647 p=<0.001, ƞp2=0.113). Women had higher scores on the index and people with higher levels of education scored less on the index. The evidence allows for a different approach in the assessment and social intervention if this condition, prioritizing problematic groups and situations.

Use of lung ultrasound in neonates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the current pandemic, caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, ultrasound has played a fundamental role in patients who develop the resulting disease, designated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study we present ultrasound images of the lungs of neonates with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, distinguishing between the changes related to COVID-19 and those unrelated to the disease. Ultrasound examinations were performed by a pediatric sonographer. A total of 27 neonates were evaluated. Among those who presented no respiratory symptoms, some tested negative for COVID-19 and others tested positive. All of those who were pulmonary symptomatic, negative for COVID-19 presented transient tachypnea of the newborn and respiratory distress syndrome. Lung ultrasound images obtained in COVID-19-negative neonates showed, in some cases, a normal pattern (with A lines, few B lines, a thin, linear pleural line, and no pleural effusion), whereas in others showed coalescent B lines and areas of opacity. In two of the COVID-19-positive neonates, lung ultrasound examination showed several coalescent B lines, pleural thickening, and areas of opacity. Lung ultrasound in the neonatal period appears to be applicable within the context of the current pandemic, allowing efficient evaluation of COVID-19-related changes in neonates, as well as of pathologies inherent to the neonatal period.

Na pandemia atual causada pelo SARS-CoV-19, a ultrassonografia (US) tem apresentado papel fundamental nos pacientes com COVID-19. Neste trabalho são mostradas imagens ultrassonográficas de recém-nascidos (RNs) suspeitos ou positivos para COVID-19 e alterações pulmonares não relacionadas a essa doença. As imagens ultrassonográficas foram obtidas por médico especialista em US pediátrica. Foram avaliados 27 RNs, sendo incluídos RNs assintomáticos da parte respiratória, COVID negativos e positivos, e RNs sintomáticos para a parte respiratória, COVID-negativos, observados na taquipneia transitória do recém-nascido ou na síndrome do desconforto respiratório. As imagens ultrassonográficas dos RNs negativos para COVID-19 mostraram tanto o padrão normal (presença de linhas A, poucas linhas B, linha pleural fina e linear, ausência de efusão pleural) quanto a presença de linhas B coalescentes e áreas de condensação pulmonar. Destaca-se a presença de dois RNs COVID-19 positivos apresentando múltiplas linhas B coalescentes, espessamento pleural e com áreas de condensação. Com este trabalho, os autores procuram demonstrar a aplicabilidade da US pulmonar dentro do contexto da pandemia da COVID-19, incluindo as doenças inerentes ao período neonatal.

Candida Species (Volatile) Metabotyping through Advanced Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography.

Microbial metabolomics is a challenge strategy that allows a comprehensive analysis of metabolites within a microorganism and may support a new approach in microbial research, including the microbial diagnosis. Thus, the aim of this research was to in-depth explore a metabolomics strategy based on the use of an advanced multidimensional gas chromatography for the comprehensive mapping of cellular metabolites of C. albicans and non-C. albicans (C. glabrata and C. tropicalis) and therefore contributing for the development of a comprehensive platform for fungal detection management and for species distinction in early growth times (6 h). The volatile fraction comprises 126 putatively identified metabolites distributed over several chemical families: acids, alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, monoterpenic and sesquiterpenic compounds, norisoprenoids, phenols and sulphur compounds. These metabolites may be related with different metabolic pathways, such as amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis, fatty acids metabolism, aromatic compounds degradation, mono and sesquiterpenoid synthesis and carotenoid cleavage. These results represent an enlargement of ca. 70% of metabolites not previously reported for C. albicans, 91% for C. glabrata and 90% for C. tropicalis. This study represents the most detailed study about Candida species exometabolome, allowing a metabolomic signature of each species, which signifies an improvement towards the construction of a Candida metabolomics platform whose application in clinical diagnostics can be crucial to guide therapeutic interventions.

Enlarging Knowledge on Lager Beer Volatile Metabolites Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography.

Foodomics, emergent field of metabolomics, has been applied to study food system processes, and it may be useful to understand sensorial food properties, among others, through foods metabolites profiling. Thus, as beer volatile components represent the major contributors for beer overall and peculiar aroma properties, this work intends to perform an in-depth profiling of lager beer volatile metabolites and to generate new data that may contribute for molecules' identification, by using multidimensional gas chromatography. A set of lager beers were used as case-study, and 329 volatile metabolites were determined, distributed over 8 chemical families: acids, alcohols, esters, monoterpenic compounds, norisoprenoids, sesquiterpenic compounds, sulfur compounds, and volatile phenols. From these, 96 compounds are reported for the first time in the lager beer volatile composition. Around half of them were common to all beers under study. Clustering analysis allowed a beer typing according to production system: macro- and microbrewer beers. Monoterpenic and sesquiterpenic compounds were the chemical families that showed wide range of chemical structures, which may contribute for the samples' peculiar aroma characteristics. In summary, as far as we know, this study presents the most in-depth lager beer volatile composition, which may be further used in several approaches, namely, in beer quality control, monitoring brewing steps, raw materials composition, among others.