Effect of Instant Controlled Pressure-Drop on the Non-Nutritional Compounds of Seeds and Sprouts of Common Black Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

The common bean is an important caloric-protein food source. However, its nutritional value may be affected by the presence of non-nutritional compounds, which decrease the assimilation of some nutrients; however, at low concentrations, they show a beneficial effect. Germination and treatment by controlled pressure-drop (DIC, French acronym of Détente Instantanée Contrôlée) are methods that modify the concentration of these components. The objective of this work was to evaluate the change in the non-nutritional composition of bean seeds and sprouts by DIC treatment. The results show that with the germination, the concentration of phenolic and tannin compounds increased 99% and 73%, respectively, as well as the quantity of saponins (65.7%), while phytates and trypsin inhibitors decreased 26% and 42%, respectively. When applying the DIC treatment, the content of phytates (23-29%), saponins (44%) and oligosaccharides increased in bean sprouts and decreased phenolic compounds (4-14%), tannins (23% to 72%), and trypsin inhibitors (95.5%), according to the pressure and time conditions applied. This technology opens the way to new perspectives, especially to more effective use of legumes as a source of vegetable protein or bioactive compounds.

Rheological, chemical and sensory characterization of fortified cookies with edible flour of Xuta (Jatropha curcas L.).

In this research, the dough rheological properties of wheat flour mixed with defatted edible J. curcas flour to improve protein content in cookies were study. The wheat and J. curcas mix proportions were 100:0 (CT, control), 95:5% (T-5), 90:10% (T-10), 85:15% (T-15), 80:20% (T-20). The dough variables responds were strength, toughness, extensibility, tenacity extensibility index, water adsorption, development time, weakening grade, and mix tolerance index. In cookies, the physicochemical and hedonic characteristic were quantified. As the addition of J. curcas flour increased, the dough force and extensibility decreased up to 200.5 W × 10-4 J and 60 mm, but tenacity increased up to 16.46 mm, which in consequence increased the tenacity extensibility index in 1.75, respect to the control. Dough water adsorption and development time increased 7.62% and 1.00% while the weakening grade, mix tolerance index and stability decreased 60.17 UB, 79.2 UB and 2.1 min, respectively, when J. curcas flour was added up to 20%. In cookies water adsorption, protein, lipids and ashes increased 1.18%, 6.98%, 0.42%, 2.26%, respectively, when 20% J. curcas flour was added. The fortify cookies factor decreased 0.4 that correspond to a very good quality. The sensory evaluation indicated no differences in acceptability of fortify cookies with J. curcas flour. It can be concluded that it is suitable to mix up to 80:20% wheat and J. curcas flour because the alveographic and farinographic properties were in the require range to elaborate cookies, which increased 6.98% the protein content and maintained the physicochemical and hedonic acceptance.

Transcriptome analysis of two inflorescence branching mutants reveals cytokinin is an important regulator in controlling inflorescence architecture in the woody plant Jatropha curcas.

BACKGROUND: In higher plants, inflorescence architecture is an important agronomic trait directly determining seed yield. However, little information is available on the regulatory mechanism of inflorescence development in perennial woody plants. Based on two inflorescence branching mutants, we investigated the transcriptome differences in inflorescence buds between two mutants and wild-type (WT) plants by RNA-Seq to identify the genes and regulatory networks controlling inflorescence architecture in Jatropha curcas L., a perennial woody plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae. RESULTS: Two inflorescence branching mutants were identified in germplasm collection of Jatropha. The duo xiao hua (dxh) mutant has a seven-order branch inflorescence, and the gynoecy (g) mutant has a three-order branch inflorescence, while WT Jatropha has predominantly four-order branch inflorescence, occasionally the three- or five-order branch inflorescences in fields. Using weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), we identified several hub genes involved in the cytokinin metabolic pathway from modules highly associated with inflorescence phenotypes. Among them, Jatropha ADENOSINE KINASE 2 (JcADK2), ADENINE PHOSPHORIBOSYL TRANSFERASE 1 (JcAPT1), CYTOKININ OXIDASE 3 (JcCKX3), ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASE 5 (JcIPT5), LONELY GUY 3 (JcLOG3) and JcLOG5 may participate in cytokinin metabolic pathway in Jatropha. Consistently, exogenous application of cytokinin (6-benzyladenine, 6-BA) on inflorescence buds induced high-branch inflorescence phenotype in both low-branch inflorescence mutant (g) and WT plants. These results suggested that cytokinin is an important regulator in controlling inflorescence branching in Jatropha. In addition, comparative transcriptome analysis showed that Arabidopsis homologous genes Jatropha AGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (JcAGL6), JcAGL24, FRUITFUL (JcFUL), LEAFY (JcLFY), SEPALLATAs (JcSEPs), TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (JcTFL1), and WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 3 (JcWOX3), were differentially expressed in inflorescence buds between dxh and g mutants and WT plants, indicating that they may participate in inflorescence development in Jatropha. The expression of JcTFL1 was downregulated, while the expression of JcLFY and JcAP1 were upregulated in inflorescences in low-branch g mutant. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokinin is an important regulator in controlling inflorescence branching in Jatropha. The regulation of inflorescence architecture by the genes involved in floral development, including TFL1, LFY and AP1, may be conservative in Jatropha and Arabidopsis. Our results provide helpful information for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of inflorescence architecture in Jatropha.

Lack of Patient Compliance in Real-World Practice Negatively Affects Sustained Viral Response Rates to Direct Acting Agent Therapy for Hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the true efficacy of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in real-world clinical practice, taking into account those patients that do not complete therapy or the necessary follow-up to establish sustained viral response (SVR). METHODS: Retrospective data collection of 261 genotype 1 HCV-infected patients, treatment naïve or treatment experienced, treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir combination therapy at an academic medical center. All patients received individualized teaching and counseling prior to starting therapy stressing importance of compliance with laboratory monitoring and treatment completion. Intention to treat SVR rates (ITT-SVR) and per-protocol SVR rates (PP-SVR) were calculated. Chi-squared test was used to compare the number of subjects lost to follow-up in the treatment-naïve vs. treatment-experienced groups. Characteristics of noncompliant patients were compared to compliant patients. RESULTS: ITT-SVR rates for the entire cohort were 74%, significantly lower than the 95% PP-SVR rate for the compliant patients (p < 0.001). ITT-SVR was lower in treatment-naïve patients compared to treatment-experienced patients (68% vs. 86%). Among the entire cohort, 22% of patients either discontinued therapy prematurely (7%) or did not return for SVR assessment (15%). Failure to complete therapy or return for SVR assessment was statistically more common among treatment-naïve patients compared to treatment-experienced patients (28% vs. 11%, p = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant rate of noncompliance among patients treated with DAA in real-world clinical practice despite pre-treatment education efforts. The ITT-SVR rates observed in clinical practice were significantly lower than those reported by clinical trials, and this difference was most pronounced among treatment-naïve patients.

Selection of Specific Peptides for Coccidioides spp. Obtained from Antigenic Fractions through SDS-PAGE and Western Blot Methods by the Recognition of Sera from Patients with Coccidioidomycosis.

Antigenic fractions of 100, 50, 37, and 28 kDa obtained through the SDS-PAGE method that were more frequently recognized by anti-Coccidioides antibodies in the sera of coccidioidomycosis patients were selected using western blotting. Subsequently, these bands were sequenced, and the obtained proteins were analysed by BLAST to choose peptides specific for Coccidioides spp. from among the shared aligned sequences of related fungi. A peptide specific for C. immitis was selected from the "GPI anchored serine-threonine rich protein OS C. immitis", while from the "uncharacterized protein of C. immitis", we selected a peptide for C. immitis and C. posadasii. These proteins arose from the 100 kDa antigenic fraction. From the protein "fatty acid amide hydrolase 1 of C. posadasii" that was identified from the 50 kDa antigenic fraction, a peptide was selected that recognized C. immitis and C. posadasii. In addition, the analysis of all the peptides (353) of each of the assembled proteins showed that only 35 had 100% identity with proteins of C. immitis and C. posadasii, one had 100% identity with only C. immitis, and one had 100% identity with only C. posadasii. These peptides can be used as diagnostic reagents, vaccines, and antifungals.

Copper-catalysed enantioselective Michael addition of malonic esters to ß-trifluoromethyl-α,ß-unsaturated imines.

Copper triflate-BOX complexes catalyse the enantioselective conjugate addition of methyl malonate to ß-trifluoromethyl-α,ß-unsaturated imines to give the corresponding enamines bearing a trifluoromethylated stereogenic centre with good yields, and diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The usefulness of the method has been shown with the synthesis of optically active ß-trifluoromethyl δ-amino esters and optically active trifluoromethyl piperidones.

Myocardial expression of transforming growth factor beta family and endothelin-1 in the progression from heart failure to ascites in broilers with cold-induced pulmonary hypertension.

We determined mRNA expression of genes of endothelin-1 (ET-1), and of the transforming growth factor beta ligands (TGFß1, TGFß2 and TGFß3), their receptors (TßRI and TßRII) and their pseudoreceptor BAMBI in the heart of broilers raised under cold temperature conditions and affected by pulmonary hypertension. Gene expression was determined by RT-qPCR in right myocardial ventricle samples from 4-week-old chickens (n = 48) raised either under normal (control) or cold temperature conditions (22 °C versus 14 °C). We do not find differences among healthy birds, birds with cardiac failure and ascitic birds in the mRNA levels of TGFß2, TGFß3 and BAMBI. In the control group, ET-1 mRNA level was increased in the ascitic birds as compared with healthy birds and birds with cardiac failure (p < 0.05) whereas in the cold treated group, no increase was observed (p > 0.05); yet, ascitic birds in the cold group showed lower mean than ascitic birds in the control group (p < 0.05). TßRII mRNA expression was higher in ascitic than in healthy birds (p < 0.05) in both control and cold treated groups; however, in the ascitic birds of the cold treated group TßRII expression was lower than in ascitic birds from the control group (p < 0.05). Thus, the higher ET-1 and TßRII levels observed in ascitic birds seem to be attenuated by cold.

Hepatitis B in pregnancy.

In the United States each year, 24,000 infants are born to women who are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and an estimated 1000 newborns acquire the infection through vertical transmission from their mother. The approach to a pregnant patient with HBV infection includes assessing the need for therapy in the mother and evaluating possible interventions that may reduce mother-to-child transmission of HBV infection. Rates of mother-to-child transmission of HBV can be greatly reduced if the current guidelines for screening and immunization are universally followed. The use of oral antiviral therapy in highly viremic mothers to reduce mother-to-child transmission is controversial but should be considered on a case-by-case basis, realizing that the available antiviral medications to treat HBV are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use during pregnancy. We review the literature and present our suggested management approach to the pregnant patient with chronic HBV.

Analyzing invariants and employing successive reductions for the extended Kadomtsev Petviashvili equation in (3+1) dimensions.

In this research, we employ the potent technique of Lie group analysis to derive analytical solutions for the (3+1)-extended Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (3D-EKP) equation. The systematic application of this method enables the identification of Lie point symmetries associated with the equation, leading to the derivation of an optimal system of one-dimensional subalgebras relevant to the equation. This optimal system is utilized to obtain several invariant solutions. The Lie group method is subsequently applied to the reduced governing equations derived from the given equation. We complement our findings with Mathematica simulations illustrating some of the obtained solutions. Furthermore, a direct approach is used to investigate local conservation laws. Importantly, our study addresses a gap in the exploration of the 3D-EXP equation using group theoretic methods, making our findings novel in this context.

Efficacy of a cognitive intervention program in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional state between normal aging and dementia. Identifying this condition would allow early interventions that may reduce the rate of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined the efficacy of a six-month cognitive intervention program (CIP) in patients with MCI and to assess patients' condition at one-year follow-up. METHODS: Forty-six MCI participants assessed with neuropsychological, neurological, neuropsychiatry, and functional procedures were included in this study and followed up during a year. The sample was randomized into two subgroups: 24 participants (the "trained group") underwent the CIP during six months while 22 (control group) received no treatment. Sixteen participants dropped out of the study. The intervention focused on teaching cognitive strategies, cognitive training, and use of external aids, in sessions of two hours, twice per week for six months. Cognitive and functional measures were used as primary outcome and all were followed up at one year. RESULTS: The intervention effect (mean change from baseline) was significant (p < 0.05) on the Mini-Mental State Examination (1.74), the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (0.14), the Boston Naming Test (2.92), block design (-13.66), matrix reasoning (-3.07), and semantic fluency (-3.071) tasks. Four patients (one trained and three controls) progressed to dementia after one year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that persons with MCI can improve their performance on cognitive and functional measures when provided with early cognitive training and it could persist in a long-term follow-up.

Expanding the knowledge frontier of mitoviruses in Cannabis sativa.

Mitoviruses were initially known for their presence in the mitochondria of fungi and were considered exclusive to these organisms. However, recent studies have shown that they are also present in a large number of plant species. Despite the potential impact that mitoviruses might have on the mitochondria of plant cells, there is a lack of information about these ancient RNA viruses, especially within the Cannabaceae family. Cannabis sativa has been in the spotlight in recent years due to the growing industrial applications of plant derivatives, such as fiber and secondary metabolites. Given the importance of Cannabis in today's agriculture, our study aimed to expand the knowledge frontier of Mitoviruses in C. sativa by increasing the number of reference genomes of CasaMV1 available in public databases and representing a larger number of crops in countries where its industrial-scale growth is legalized. To achieve this goal, we used transcriptomics to sequence the first mitoviral genomes of Colombian crops and analyzed RNA-seq datasets available in the SRA databank. Additionally, the evolutionary analysis performed using the mitovirus genomes revealed two main lineages of CasaMV1, termed CasaMV1_L1 and CasaMV1_L2. These mitoviral lineages showed strong clustering based on the geographic location of the crops and differential expression intensities.

Disseminated Cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient.

We present a case report on disseminated cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae infection with a sporotrichoid pattern in an immunocompetent patient. The aim of this report is to contribute to the existing knowledge on the clinical presentation and management of this uncommon presentation.

Giant Nevus Lipomatosus Cutaneous Superficialis in the Vulva: Finding the Best Treatment.

This report presents a rare case of a giant Nevus Lipomatosus Cutaneous Superficialis (NLCS) on the vulva of a 38-year-old female. The patient underwent excisional surgery and electrodesiccation for complete lesion removal. Recurrence following CO2 laser treatment was observed. The study highlights the challenges in managing large NLCS lesions in challenging locations and emphasizes the importance of combining surgical excision and electrodesiccation for successful treatment. Further research and reported cases are needed to enhance our understanding of this rare condition and guide optimal treatment strategies.

Combining the Peptide RWQWRWQWR and an Ethanolic Extract of Bidens pilosa Enhances the Activity against Sensitive and Resistant Candida albicans and C. auris Strains.

The antifungal activity of palindromic peptide RWQWRWQWR and its derivatives was evaluated against clinical isolates of Candida albicans and C. auris. Also, Bidens pilosa ethanolic extracts of leaves and stem were evaluated. Furthermore, combinations of peptide, extract, and/or fluconazole (FLC) were evaluated. The cytotoxicity of peptides and extracts in erythrocytes and fibroblasts was determined. The original palindromic peptide, some derivative peptides, and the ethanolic extract of leaves of B. pilosa exhibited the highest activity in some of the strains evaluated. Synergy was obtained between the peptide and the FLC against C. auris 435. The combination of the extract and the original palindromic peptide against C. albicans SC5314, C. auris 435, and C. auris 537 decreased the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by a factor of between 4 and 16. These mixtures induced changes in cell morphology, such as deformations on the cell surface. The results suggest that the combination of RWQWRWQWR and B. pilosa extract is an alternative for enhancing antifungal activity and decreasing cytotoxicity and costs and should be considered to be a promising strategy for treating diseases caused by Candida spp.

The role of effective clinician-patient communication in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation (CC) are common functional bowel disorders that are among the most frequent reasons for referral to a gastroenterologist. Diagnosis and management of these conditions can be challenging for both the clinician and the patient for a number of reasons. Diagnosis can be complicated by the lack of a specific diagnostic test and the fact that IBS and CC are multisymptomatic conditions, whereas management can be suboptimal, because the conditions are often undiagnosed and self-managed by the patient. Furthermore, these are chronic conditions that must be managed over the long term, which can often lead to frustration both on the part of the patient and the clinician. As such, the role of the therapeutic clinician-patient relationship in diagnosis and management of these conditions has been attracting increasing attention. A patient-centered approach with a strong focus on effective communication between the clinician and the patient has been recommended for management of functional bowel diseases such as IBS and CC and has been associated with improved outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and decreased utilization of care. The potential benefit of such practices as asking open-ended questions, actively listening to the patient, and displaying empathy in strengthening the clinician-patient relationship are highlighted in this manuscript. These skills have broad application in clinical medicine and can be used to improve clinician-patient communication in the management of patients with chronic illnesses.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Cholangiopathy: Case Series of Three Patients and Literature Review.

Cholangiopathy in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is being less frequently reported since antiretroviral therapy (ART) is available. It is associated with an advanced disease and seen in situations with poor access or non-compliance with ART. Liver biopsy is thought to have low yield in cases of AIDS cholangiopathy, but it can be an important tool in diagnosis, especially early in the course of the disease. The prognosis of AIDS cholangiopathy is generally not favorable, the therapy for opportunistic infections is mostly ineffective and restoration of immune system with ART remains the therapy of choice. We are sharing our experience of diagnosing and managing three cases of AIDS cholangiopathy.

[Factors associated with the survival of fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of megabladder]. / Factores asociados a sobrevida de fetos con diagnóstico prenatal de megavejiga.

The presence of fetal megacystis in a renal ultrasound may suggest a mechanical or functional bladder outlet obstruction, an uncommon condition with a poor outcome. OBJECTIVE: To determine prog nostic factors in fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of megacystis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study carried out between 2003 and 2018 in the Orient Perinatal Reference Center (CERPO), Uni versity of Chile. Prenatal and postnatal data were analyzed, as well as etiology, pulmonary hypoplasia, medical and surgical treatment, mortality, renal function, and need for renal replacement therapy. The primary variable analyzed was survival at one year, and the secondary ones were renal function and predictors of survival. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U tests or Fisher test, and a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Twenty-five fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of megacystis were included. 52% of them presented oligohydramnios and 84% showed renal anomalies. Vesicocentesis was performed in 15 fetuses and vesicoamniotic shunt was performed in 5 cases. There were 6 intrauterine fetal deaths (24%) and, among the 19 live births, 9 died soon after birth (36%) and 1 died in the post-neonatal period due to a non-nephron-urological cause. Nine newborns survived by one year of age (36%), seven of them with associated nephron- urological anomaly, and two were healthy patients. Two patients developed chronic kidney disease. The presence of pulmonary hypoplasia was the only factor associated with increased perinatal mor tality (p<0.05) secondary to oligohydramnios in all cases. Oligohydramnios was not identified as a prognostic factor in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The prenatal diagnosis of megacystis comprises a wide spectrum of pathologies including conditions with a high perinatal mortality rate to healthy fetuses with transient enlarged bladder without nephron-urological pathology. The only factor associated with increased perinatal mortality was pulmonary hypoplasia.

Benefits of cardiac pacing in ICD recipients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

PURPOSE: Implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) is the only definitive therapy for prevention of sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Conventional transvenous ICDs can provide cardiac pacing unlike new subcutaneous ICD, but the usefulness of cardiac pacing in HCM patients is not well defined. We sought to assess the usefulness of ICD pacing in HCM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 93 HCM patients who had undergone ICD implantation at our center. Usefulness of pacing was defined as follows: 1) need of pacing due to bradycardia or AV conduction disturbances, 2) improvement of LV outflow tract obstruction by sequential AV pacing, 3) need for CRT pacing, or 4) successful antitachycardia pacing without a subsequent shock. Independent predictors of useful pacing were investigated by multivariable analysis. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 91.3 ± 5.5 months, 43 patients (46.2%) reached the composite endpoint. Independent predictors of pacing usefulness were older age (HR 1.36; 95%CI: 1.088-1.709; p=0.007) and NYHA functional class ≥ II (HR 2.15; 95%CI: 1.083-4.301; p=0.029). Twenty-eight (30.1%) patients had appropriate ICD interventions, triggered by a monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) in 22 of them (78.5%). In 17 individuals with MVT (77%), antitachycardia pacing successfully treated MVT. CONCLUSIONS: In our HCM series of patients with ICD, 46% of individuals benefitted from cardiac pacing. MVT were documented in nearly 80% of the patients with ventricular arrhythmias and antitachycardia pacing successfully treated them in 77% of cases.