The Impact of the Drying Process on the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Dried Ripe Coffee Cherry Pulp Soluble Powder.

Coffee fruit cascara, which is the skin and pulp of the coffee cherry, has been authorized as a novel food for commercialization in the European Union. The present research assessed the feasibility of using spray drying to produce a soluble powder called instant cascara (IC), employing sun-dried ripe coffee cherry pulp as a raw material. Although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the overall antioxidant capacity between the freeze-dried and spray-dried samples, after an in vitro simulation of the digestion process, the spray-dried sample was significantly (p < 0.05) more antioxidant. Both samples reduced physiological intracellular ROS and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the secretion of the pro-inflammatory factor NO. Alkaloids and phenolic compounds were detected in intestinal digests. In conclusion, spray drying is a good technique for producing IC as its use does not affect its properties and causes less environmental impact than freeze drying, as calculated by life cycle assessment. Sensory analysis did not show significant differences between the commercial beverage and the IC beverage in the adult population. IC at 10 mg/mL was significantly less accepted in adolescents than the commercial beverage. Future work will include the reformulation of the IC beverage at 10 mg/mL, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, to increase its hedonic acceptance in all consumer segments.

Oil-in Water Vegetable Emulsions with Oat Bran as Meat Raw Material Replacers: Compositional, Technological and Structural Approach.

The unique composition and technological properties of some oat bran components (mainly protein and soluble fiber) and olive oil make them a good choice to form oil-in-water vegetable emulsions. The different concentrations of oat bran were studied to form olive oil-in water (O/W) emulsions to apply as a replacement for fat and meat. As a result, four O/W emulsions (OBE) were formulated with 10% (OBE10), 15% (OBE15), 20% (OEB20), and 30% (OBE30) oat bran concentrations and 40% olive oil, with the corresponding amount of water added for each O/W emulsion. Composition, technological properties (thermal stability, pH, texture), and lipid structural characteristics were evaluated. The results showed that low oat bran content (OEB10)-with a lower concentration of oat protein and ß-glucans-resulted in an O/W emulsion with an aggregated droplet structure and lower thermal stability and hardness. These connections between composition, technology, and structural properties of olive O/W emulsions elaborated with oat bran could help in making the optimal choice for their potential application in the production of foods such as healthier meat products.

Cefalea de características atípicas / Headache with atypical features

La cefalea es un motivo de consulta frecuente, que ha sufrido un aumento de su incidencia en los últimos años. En la mayor parte de los casos se trata de cefaleas primarias y no requieren estudios complementarios. Pero resulta fundamental excluir aquellas debidas a una causa subyacente, prestando atención a los posibles signos de alarma. Se presenta el caso de un niño de dos años y medio con episodios repetidos de cefalea de características atípicas, con escasa respuesta al tratamiento inicial. En ocasiones, los síntomas asociados a la cefalea pueden ser sutiles por lo que resulta difícil reconocerlos. Existen trastornos epilépticos benignos, como el síndrome de Panayiotopoulos caracterizado por crisis con predominio de síntomas autonómicos, que puede asociar cefalea. Es importante conocer este síndrome para ser capaces de reconocer los síntomas

Headache is a frequent reason for consultation and it has experienced an increase in its incidence in recent years. In most cases, they are primary headaches that do not require additional studies. However, it is essential to exclude those which are originated by an underlying cause, paying attention to possible warning signs. We here present the case of a two-and-a-half-year-old child with repeated episodes of headache with atypical features, with a limited response to initial treatment. In some cases, the symptoms associated with headache can be subtle, making it difficult to recognize them. Benign epileptic disorders exist, such as the Panayiotopoulos Syndrome which is characterized by seizures with predominance of autonomic symptoms, which can associate headache. It is important to know this syndrome in order to be able to recognize the symptoms and carry out an adequate diagnosis and treatment

Carbon Nanotubes as Reinforcement of Cellulose Liquid Crystalline Responsive Networks.

The incorporation of small amount of highly anisotropic nanoparticles into liquid crystalline hydroxypropylcellulose (LC-HPC) matrix improves its response when is exposed to humidity gradients due to an anisotropic increment of order in the structure. Dispersed nanoparticles give rise to faster order/disorder transitions when exposed to moisture as it is qualitatively observed and quantified by stress-time measurements. The presence of carbon nanotubes derives in a improvement of the mechanical properties of LC-HPC thin films.

Investigating the influence of morphology in the dynamical behavior of semicrystalline Triton X-100: insights in the detection/nondetection of the α'-process.

The paper investigates the influence of the crystalline structure in the dynamical behavior of semicrystalline Triton X-100 allowing enlightening the reason for the detection/nondetection of the α'-process. The work was preceded by the study of the full amorphous material for which dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) identified multiple relaxations: the α-process associated with the dynamical glass transition and two secondary relaxations (ß- and γ- processes). To evaluate how crystallinity affects the detected relaxation processes, different crystallizations were induced under high and low undercooling conditions. While the secondary relaxations are unaffected by crystallization, the mobility of the cooperative bulk α-process is sensitive to the distinct morphologies. The distinct semicrystalline states were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used as a complementary tool. Depending on the extension of undercooling, large and well-defined shperulites or grainy-like structure emerge, respectively, for low and high undercooling degrees, as monitored by POM. In the two crystalline structures, X-ray diffraction patterns detected the amorphous halo meaning that both are semicrystalline. However, no differences between the amorphous regions are indentified by this technique; the distinction was done by means of dielectric measurements probing different mobilities in each of those regions. When the large spherulites evolve, the bulk-like α-process never goes to extinction and slightly shifts to low frequencies increasing the associated glass transition by 2-3 K, as confirmed by DSC; the slight change is an indication that the dimensions of the persisting amorphous regions become comparable to the length scale inherent to the cooperative motion that determines the glass transition in the full amorphous material. For the grainy-like structure, the α-process becomes extinct and an α'-process evolves as revealed by isochronal plots of dielectric measurements, with the features of a glass transition as confirmed by temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry; both techniques indicate a 10-12 K displacement of the associated hindered glass transition toward higher temperatures relative to the amorphous glass transition. It is concluded that the detection of the α'-process in Triton X-100 is greatly determined by the high degree of constraining of the amorphous regions imposed by the grainy crystalline structure disabling the occurrence of a bulk-like α-process. Triton X-100 can be taken as a model for understanding low molecular weight materials crystallization, allowing correlating the observed dynamical behavior with the achieved crystalline morphology.

Biomineralization in chitosan/Bioglass® composite membranes under different dynamic mechanical conditions.

Fundamental aspects of biomineralization may be important in order to understand and improve calcification onto the surface of biomaterials. The biomineralization process is mainly followed in vitro by assessing the evolution of the apatite layer that is formed upon immersion of the material in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). In this work we propose an innovative methodology to monitor apatite deposition by looking at the evolution of the mechanical/viscoelastic properties of the sample while immersed in SBF, using non-conventional dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) performed under distinct displacement amplitudes (d). The biomimetic biomineralization process in composite membranes of chitosan (CTS) with Bioglass® (BG) was followed by measuring the change of the storage modulus, E', and the loss factor, tan δ, at 37 °C and in SBF, both online (d=10 µm and d=30 µm) and offline (d=0 µm). The online experiments revealed that the E' decreased continuously up in the first hours of immersion in SBF that should be related to the dissolution of BG particles. After that, an increase of the stiffness was verified due to the apatite deposition. SEM/EDS observations upon 24h of immersion in SBF showed higher development of apatite deposition with increasing displacement amplitude.

Chitosan membranes containing micro or nano-size bioactive glass particles: evolution of biomineralization followed by in situ dynamic mechanical analysis.

A new family of biodegradable polymer/bioactive glass (BG) composite materials has emerged based on the availability of nano-sized bioactive particles. Such novel biocomposites can have enhanced performance, in terms of mechanical properties and bioactivity, and they can be designed to be used in bone regeneration approaches. In this work, membranes of chitosan (CTS) and chitosan with bioactive glass (BG) both micron and nano sized particles (CTS/µBG, CTS/nBG, respectively) were prepared by solvent casting. Microstructural and mechanical properties were evaluated in order to compare the effects of the incorporation of micro (µBG) and nano (nBG) particles in the chitosan matrix. In vitro bioactivity tests were performed to characterize the apatite layer that is formed on the surface of the material after being immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The biomineralization process on the biomaterials was also followed using non-conventional dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), both online and offline. In such DMA experiments, the change in the storage modulus, E', and the loss factor, tan δ, were measured as a function of the immersion time in SBF. The results demonstrated that CTS/nBG membranes possess enhanced mechanical properties and higher bioactivity in comparison with the CTS/µBG membranes. Such results suggest the potential of nBG for the development of bioactive composites for bone regeneration applications.

The Mini-Mental-37 test for dementia screening in the Spanish population: an analysis using the Rasch Model.

Our aim was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Mini-Mental State Examination-37 using the Rasch Model (RM) in order to identify the cognitive domains that optimize detection of dementia in the Spanish population. All participants (n = 3955) were part of the NEDICES (Neurological Disorders in Central Spain) cohort study designed to detect dementia in persons aged 65 years and older. Clinical diagnosis of dementia (n = 178) was established by consensus of expert neurologists according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Results indicate that the items on the MMSE-37 have a good fit with the assumptions of the RM. None of the items on the MMSE-37 exhibits differential item functioning in relation to the groups. The items that assess orientation, attention, and language (repetition and comprehension) are those that best enable us to discriminate between the group with dementia and the group without dementia. The implications of the education and other sociodemographic characteristics of the population are discussed.

Bioactivity and viscoelastic characterization of chitosan/bioglass® composite membranes.

Membranes of chitosan (CTS) and composite membranes of CTS with bioglass are prepared by solvent casting. The composite membranes are shown to induce the precipitation of apatite upon immersion in SBF. The biomineralization process is followed by measuring the variation of the viscoelastic properties of the membranes immersed in SBF, both online and offline. Non-conventional DMA is used to measure the change in the storage modulus, E', and the loss factor, tan δ, as a function of the immersion in SBF. A simple model is used to estimate the E' of the apatite layer formed in vitro that is about 130 MPa. This work shows that innovate mechanical tests can be useful to characterize the mechanical performance of composites under physiological conditions.

Phase transformations undergone by Triton X-100 probed by differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy.

The phase transformations of the surfactant Triton X-100 were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). In particular, crystallization was induced at different cooling rates comprised between 13 and 0.5 K min(-1). Vitrification was detected by both DSC and DRS techniques with a glass transition temperature of ∼212 K (measured on heating by DSC) allowing classifying Triton X-100 as a glass former. A fully amorphous material was obtained by cooling at a rate ≥10 K min(-1), while crystallization was observed for lower cooling rates. The temperature of the onset of melt-crystallization was found to be dependent on the cooling scan rate, being higher the lower was the scan rate. In subsequent heating scans, the material undergoes cold-crystallization except if cooled previously at a rate ≤1 K min(-1). None of the different thermal histories led to a 100% crystalline material because always the jump typical of the glass transformation in both heat flux (DSC) and real permittivity (DRS) is observed. It was also observed that the extent/morphology of the crystalline phase depends on the degree of undercooling, with higher spherulites developing for lower undercooling degree (24 K ≤ T(m) - T(cr) ≤ 44 K) in melt-crystallization and a grain-like morphology emerging for T(m) - T(cr) ≈ 57 K either in melt- or cold-crystallization. The isothermal cold- and melt-crystallizations were monitored near above the calorimetric glass transition temperature by POM (221 K) and real-time DRS (T(cr) = 219, 220, and 221 K) to evaluate the phase transformation from an amorphous to a semicrystalline material. By DRS, the α-relaxation associated with the dynamic glass transition was followed, with the observation that it depletes upon both type of crystallizations with no significant changes either in shape or in location. Kinetic parameters were obtained from the time evolution of the normalized permittivity according to a modified Avrami model taking in account the induction time. The reason the isothermal crystallization occurs to a great extent in the vicinity of the glass transition was rationalized as the simultaneous effect of (i) a high dynamic fragile behavior and (ii) the occurrence of catastrophic nucleation/crystal growth probably enabled by a preordering tendency of the surfactant molecules. This is compatible with the estimated low Avrami exponent (1.12 ≤ n ≤ 1.6), suggesting that relative short length scale motions govern the crystal growth in Triton X-100 coherent with the observation of a grainy crystallization by POM.

Crosslink effect and albumin adsorption onto chitosan/alginate multilayered systems: an in situ QCM-D study.

The adsorption of HSA onto CHI/ALG multilayer assemblies was assessed in situ using QCM-D. It was found that the behavior of HSA on biomaterials surface can be tuned by adjusting parameters of the polyelectrolyte system such as pH, layer number, crosslinker and polymer terminal layer. Our results confirmed the key role of electrostatic interactions during HSA adsorption, since oppositely charged surfaces were more effective in promoting protein adhesion. QCM-D data revealed that crosslinking (CHI/ALG)(5) CHI films allows HSA to become adsorbed in physiological conditions. Our results suggested that the biological potential of biopolymers and the mild conditions of the LbL technique turn these natural nanoassemblies into a suitable choice to be used as pH-sensitive coatings.

[Test-retest and interobserver reliability of a Spanish version (MMSE-37) of the Folstein minimental test, adapted to populations with a low level of schooling]. / Fiabilidad interobservador y test-retest de una versión española (MMSE-37) del test minimental de Folstein, adaptada a poblaciones de bajo nivel educativo.

INTRODUCTION: Several versions of Folstein's minimental test (MMSE, Minimental State Examination) exist in Spanish. One of them is the 37-point MMSE (MMSE-37), which is adapted to people with a low cultural level. AIM. To study the interobserver and test-retest reliability of the MMSE-37. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Interobserver reliability was studied in three professional observers who simultaneously administered the MMSE-37 to 40 patients from a community setting. Test-retest reliability was obtained in 35 patients by administering the MMSE-37 on two occasions 2-3 months apart. Statistics used: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman difference plot method, and kappa index. RESULTS: Interobserver reliability study: multiple ICC of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, CI 95% = 0.99-0.99); kappa index of 0.84 (CI 95% = 0.72-0.97); the degree of agreement between the individual responses was 1 for 'pathological outcome', 0.79 for 'probably pathological outcome', 0.37 for 'probably normal outcome' and 0.89 for 'normal outcome'; ICC > 0.99 (CI 95% = 0.99-0.99) between all the pairs of observers. The systematic differences in the mean score between the pairs of observers did not exceed the score of 0.1, which represents a bias of 0.47% after removing the scale. Test-retest reliability study: ICC of 0.92 (CI 95% = 0.87-0.96), kappa index of 0.84 (CI 95% = 0.54-1.00) and mean difference in the magnitude of disagreement of 0.34 (CI 95% = -2.80-3.49), 1% of the percent error in the magnitude of the disagreement. CONCLUSIONS: The MMSE-37 shows a high degree of test-retest reliability and reliability among professional observers, as in other versions of the MMSE.

Fiabilidad interobservador y test-retest de una versión española (MMSE-37) del test minimental de Folstein, adaptada a poblaciones de bajo nivel educativo / Test-retest and interobserver reliability of a Spanish version (MMSE-37) of the Folstein minimental test, adapted to populations with a low level of schooling

Introducción. Existen varias versiones en español del test minimental de Folstein (MMSE, Minimental State Examination); una es el MMSE de 37 puntos (MMSE-37), que está adaptado a personas de bajo nivel cultural. Objetivo. Estudiar la fiabilidad interobservador y test-retest del MMSE-37. Pacientes y métodos. La fiabilidad interobservador se estudió en tres observadores profesionales que realizaron simultáneamente el MMSE-37 en 40 pacientes de ámbito comunitario. La fiabilidad test-retest se obtuvo en 35 pacientes mediante la realización del MMSE-37 en dos ocasiones en un plazo de 2-3 meses. Estadísticos utilizados: coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI), método de acuerdo de Bland y Altman, e índice kappa. Resultados. Estudio de fiabilidad interobservador: CCI múltiple de 0,99 (intervalo de confianza del 95%, IC 95% = 0,99- 0,99); índice kappa de 0,84 (IC 95% = 0,72-0,97); el grado de acuerdo existente entre las respuestas individuales fue de 1 para ‘resultado patológico’, 0,79 para ‘resultado probablemente patológico’, 0,37 para ‘resultado probablemente normal’ y 0,89 para ‘resultado normal’; CCI > 0,99 (IC 95% = 0,99-0,99) entre todos los pares de observadores. Las diferencias sistemáticas en la puntuación media entre las parejas de observadores no superó la puntuación de 0,1, lo que implica un 0,47% de sesgo una vez eliminada la escala. Estudio de fiabilidad test-retest: CCI de 0,92 (IC 95% = 0,87-0,96), índice kappa de 0,84 (IC 95% = 0,54-1,00) y diferencia media en la magnitud del desacuerdo de 0,34 (IC 95% = –2,80-3,49), un 1% del error porcentual en la magnitud del desacuerdo. Conclusiones. El MMSE-37 muestra alta fiabilidad entre observadores profesionales y test-retest como en otras versiones del MMSE (AU)

Introduction. Several versions of Folstein’s minimental test (MMSE, Minimental State Examination) exist in Spanish. One of them is the 37-point MMSE (MMSE-37), which is adapted to people with a low cultural level. Aims. To study the interobserver and test-retest reliability of the MMSE-37. Patients and methods. Interobserver reliability was studied in three professional observers who simultaneously administered the MMSE-37 to 40 patients from a community setting. Test-retest reliability was obtained in 35 patients by administering the MMSE-37 on two occasions 2-3 months apart. Statistics used: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman difference plot method, and kappa index. Results. Interobserver reliability study: multiple ICC of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, CI 95% = 0.99-0.99); kappa index of 0.84 (CI 95% = 0.72-0.97); the degree of agreement between the individual responses was 1 for ‘pathological outcome’, 0.79 for ‘probably pathological outcome’, 0.37 for ‘probably normal outcome’ and 0.89 for ‘normal outcome’; ICC > 0.99 (CI 95% = 0.99-0.99) between all the pairs of observers. The systematic differences in the mean score between the pairs of observers did not exceed the score of 0.1, which represents a bias of 0.47% after removing the scale. Test-retest reliability study: ICC of 0.92 (CI 95% = 0.87-0.96), kappa index of 0.84 (CI 95% = 0.54-1.00) and mean difference in the magnitude of disagreement of 0.34 (CI 95% = –2.80-3.49), 1% of the percent error in the magnitude of the disagreement. Conclusions. The MMSE-37 shows a high degree of test-retest reliability and reliability among professional observers, as in other versions of the MMSE (AU)

[Myocardial infarction and 5,10-methylenetetrahydro-folate reductase mutation]. / Infarto de miocardio y mutación de l enzima 5, 10-metilentetrahidrofolato reductasa.

A 40-year-old woman with previous venous thrombosis in the lower limbs had recurrent myocardial infarction in the early puerperium. The only documented risk factor was an elevated level of plasma homocysteine, associated to a heterozygotic anomaly in the enzyme responsible for its metabolism, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. The case and approaches to treatment are discussed.