A lumped model of the lipase catalyzed hydrolysis of sardine oil to maximize polyunsaturated fatty acids content in acylglycerols.

The aim of this work was to produce diacylglycerols (DAG) and monoacylglycerols (MAG) with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Rhizomucor miehei lipase mediated-hydrolysis of sardine oil was conducted at several water activities. The system was mechanistically modeled to predict the time evolution of the concentration of triacylglycerols, DAG, MAG and free fatty acids (FFA) and the concentration of saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The release of the first fatty acid from the triacylglycerol was independent on the unsaturation degree. Contrary, the hydrolysis of the second one was highly affected by the degree of unsaturation, PUFA being the fatty acids that showed the highest resistance to hydrolysis. MAG percentage was maximum (7mol%) at lower water activities, while DAG content was favored at higher water activities (35mol%), achieving a 2-fold concentration of DHA.

Development of an up-grading process to produce MLM structured lipids from sardine discards.

The aim of the work was to produce MLM structured lipids with caprylic acid (M) as medium chain fatty acid located at the external bonds of the glycerol backbone and concentrated polyunsaturated fatty acids (L) from sardine discards (Sardine pilchardus) in the central bond of the glycerol. To that end, the following steps were conducted: (i) fish oil extraction, (ii) Omega-3 free fatty acids (FFA) concentration (low temperature winterization), (iii) two-steps enzymatic esterification and (iv) triacylglycerols (TAG) purification (liquid column chromatography). The resultant purified triacylglycerols accomplished with the oxidative state (peroxide and anisidine value, PV and AV) required for refined oils. As enzymatic treatment, Omega-3 concentrate FFA (Omega-3>600mg Omega-3 per g oil) were esterified with dicaprylic glycerol employing Novozyme 435. This process presented high regioselectivity, with ∼80mol% of concentrated fatty acids esterified at the sn-2 position.

Modelling of the production of ACE inhibitory hydrolysates of horse mackerel using proteases mixtures.

Fish protein hydrolysates from Mediterranean horse mackerel were produced by using a mixture of two commercial endoproteases (i.e. subtilisin and trypsin) at different levels of substrate concentration (2.5 g L(-1), 5 g L(-1), and 7.5 g L(-1) of protein), temperature (40 °C, 47.5 °C, and 55 °C) and percentage of subtilisin in the enzyme mixture (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). A crossed mixture process model was employed to predict the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and the ACE inhibitory activity of the final hydrolysates as a function of the experimental factors. Both models were optimized for a maximum DH and ACE inhibition. A maximum DH (17.1%) was predicted at 2.54 g L(-1) of substrate concentration, 40 °C and an enzyme mixture comprising 38.3% of subtilisin and 61.7% of trypsin. Although its proteolytic activity is limited, the presence of trypsin in the enzyme mixture allowed obtaining higher degrees of hydrolysis at low temperatures, which is desirable to minimize thermal deactivation of the proteins. Similarly, a percentage of ACE inhibition above 48% was attained at 2.5 g L(-1) of protein, 40 °C and a 1 : 1 mixture of both proteases. Higher values of ACE inhibition could be attained by increasing both the temperature and the amount of trypsin in the enzyme mixture (e.g. 50% ACE inhibition at 55 °C and 81.5% of trypsin). Finally, those hydrolysates exhibiting the highest levels of ACE inhibition were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. These assays confirmed the resistance of active fractions against their degradation by digestive enzymes.

Functional and antioxidant properties of hydrolysates of sardine (S. pilchardus) and horse mackerel (T. mediterraneus) for the microencapsulation of fish oil by spray-drying.

The functionality of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) for the microencapsulation of fish oil was investigated. Muscle protein from sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) was hydrolysed using Alcalase or trypsin. Physically stable emulsions suitable for spray-drying were obtained when using FPH with a degree of hydrolysis of 5%. Microencapsulation efficiency amounted to 98±0.1% and oxidative stability of the encapsulated oil over a period of twelve weeks was in a similar range as it is reported for other matrix systems. Therefore, the suitability of FPH for use in spray-dried emulsions has been shown for the first time. Since no clear correlation between the antioxidative activity of the FPH and the course of lipid oxidation could be established future research is required to more specifically characterise the molecular structure of the peptides and its impact on protein alteration and role in lipid oxidation.

Seasonal variations in the regiodistribution of oil extracted from small-spotted catshark and bogue.

The aim of this work was to seasonally characterize the nutritional quality of oil extracted from small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) and bogue (Boops boops). The proximate composition, lipid profile and regiodistribution of the fatty acid in the glycerol backbone were analyzed. In addition, three nutritional indexes were calculated (atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes and the hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio). Both species presented PUFA as the predominant fraction, the most abundant being DHA. Healthy values of the aforementioned indexes were maintained throughout the year. Moreover, the relative composition of omega 3 fatty acids at the sn-2 position ranged from 47.3 to 66.8 mol%, attracting interest in the employment of these oils as the raw source for the production of 2-monoacylglycerols. Regarding the individual behavior of each fatty acid, DHA presented a high tendency to occupy the sn-2 bond, whereas EPA presented the opposite behavior.

Estudio de necesidades de orientación académicas y profesionales, Plan de Acción Tutorial: BIOrienta2 / Study needs of academic and professional guidance, Tutorial Action Plan BIOrienta2

Farmacia es la Licenciatura que ofrece una mejor formación curricular para aquellos profesionalesque quieren desarrollarse en el campo de la Biomedicina. No existe ninguna otra Licenciatura queaúne conocimientos tan amplios en Ciencias de la Salud, Química, Microbiología, Parasitología,Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, y que aborde la enseñanza de los aspectos relacionados con elmedicamento y las alteraciones fisio/patológicas a un nivel molecular como es la Licenciatura deFarmacia. Para valorar el conocimiento de los alumnos de esta Licenciatura en las diversassalidas profesionales en el área de Biomedicina, hemos realizado un estudio de las necesidades de losmismos basado en encuestas de opinión. Este trabajo ha puesto de manifiesto la necesidad de crear unPlan de Orientación Tutorial (PAT) enfocado a orientarlos sobre salidas profesionales en el área deBiomedicina, de tal manera que se cubran las principales carencias puestas de manifiesto:Motivación: si comprenden la utilidad de la Licenciatura en su futuro profesional se animaránmás a trabajar.Orientación: Fundamentalmente en la elección de asignaturas e itinerarios profesionales relacionadoscon la Biomedicina.Información: Mediante charlas y conferencias en las que profesionales del área de la Biomedicina deentes públicos y privados los orienten sobre las carreras de investigador en ambos ámbitos.Nuestra experiencia como profesores e investigadores nos indica que aquellos alumnos que durantesus estudios de Licenciatura se vinculan a un Departamento como alumnos internos o al menosmuestran algún interés por la investigación, no sólo se orientan profesionalmente mejor sino queaumentan su rendimiento académico significativamente. Este hecho justifica por sí solo la puesta enmarcha del PAT(AU)

The Degree of Pharmacy offers the best instruction for those professionals that want to specialise inthe field of Biomedicine. It doesn't exist any other Degree offering to the students so wide knowledgein Health Sciences, Chemistry, Microbiology, Parasitology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnologythat deals with all the aspects related with drugs and physio/phatological alterations at a molecular level.We have carried out a study of the students’ requirements based on opinion surveys at the GranadaUniversity. This work has shown the necessity to create a PAT focused on the orientation of thestudents in their professional development in the area of Biomedicine, in such a way that the followingneeds are covered:Motivation: The understanding of the usefulness of the Degree in their professional future willencourage them to work more intensively.Orientation: Mainly in the election of subjects and professional itineraries related with theBiomedicine.Information: Professionals of Biomedicine from both public institutions and private companies willshow them the different aspects of the research in both type institutions by means of chats andconferences.Our experience as professors and researchers shows that those students that are linked to a Departmentduring their Degree or that show some interest for the research, significantly increase both theiracademic and professional performance. This fact justifies the initiation of the PAT(AU)

Importancia de la irrigación en el éxito del tratamiento de conductos radiculares necróticos. Parte 2 / No disponible

La primera parte de este trabajo actualizaba el conocimiento de la necrosis pulpar y analizaba el tipo de bacterias características, así como su relación con el sistema de conductos radiculares. A continuación, se exponía el tratamiento, priorizando la acción de los irrigantes, así como distintas secuencias de irrigación y asociaciones de irrigantes recomendadas por la literatura. En esta segunda parte, nos ocuparemos de la relevancia de los instrumentos de endodoncia y de su relación con la irrigación. Además, se revisarán otros métodos de desinfección intraconducto alternativos a los instrumentos e irrigante so que los complementen y se expondrán los nuevos irrigantes que nos aporta bibliografía actual. Por último. Se expone lo más relevante conocido hasta el momento de biofilm, entidad infecciosa de reciente conocimiento en Endodoncia, y sus posibilidades de tratamiento (AU)

Part one of this article updated the knowledge about pulp necrosis and analyzed the type of bacteria as well as its relationship with the root canal system. After, the treatment was exposed, prioritizaing irrigants action as well as different irrigation sequences. We showed associations of irrigants recommended in the literature too. In part two, we will deal with relevance of endodontic instruments and its relationship with irrigation. Furthermore, other ways of canal disinfection, alternative to the instruments and irrigation, will be reviewed, and we will show the new irrigants contributed by current bibliography. Last, the most relevant aspects of biofilm, emerging infectious entity in endodontics, are exposed as well as the different treatment options (AU)

Importancia de la irrigación en el éxito del tratamiento de conductos radiculares necróticos. Parte 1 / No disponible

El objetivo del tratamiento de conductos es la limpieza y conformación de sistema de conductos radiculares. Una de las principales patología que trata es la periodontitis apical crónica, que sería la consecuencia en los tejidos periapicales de la necrosis del tejido pulpar. Diversos estudios científicos muestran un índice mayor de fracasos en dientes con esta patología que con otras. Además, muchos autores coinciden en que la irrigación es actualmente el arma terapéutica más eficaz ante esta patología. El objetivo de esta primera parte de la revisión es actualizar los conocimientos sobre la periodontitis apical crónica y su tratamiento, especialmente desde el punto de vista de la irrigación (AU)

The objective of the intracanal treatment procedures is cleaning and shaping the root canal system in such a way that the filling will be facilitated in order to seal the apical foramen. One of the most important diseases this therapy treats is apical periodontitis which is a sequel to endodontic infection and manifests as the host defense response to microbial challenge. Many studies demonstrate a higher failure rate with apical periodontitis than others pathologies. Furthermore many authors agree that irrigation is the most powerful weapon against this pathology. The aim of this first part of the review study is to update the knowledge about chronic apical periodontitis and its treatment, specially form the point of view of irrigation (AU)

Correlation of base consumption with the degree of hydrolysis in enzymic protein hydrolysis.

It is fairly easy to control the enzymic hydrolysis of proteins in alkaline conditions by measuring the base consumption required to keep the pH constant in the reactor. Unfortunately, however, base consumption is not related in any simple way to the degree of hydrolysis reached at any given moment and to establish this relationship it is essential to find out the mean pK of the alpha-amino groups released during the hydrolytic process. We have shown here that the correct mean pK value varies according to the pH of the working conditions and that the relationship between these values may depend upon the kind of protein and protease used. We have put forward a method for determining this relationship experimentally by using a given protein-protease system, consisting of an alkaline titration of the raw protein and when partially hydrolysed. We have tested the results predicted by our theoretical model by applying it to the hydrolysis of whey proteins with a bacterial protease from Bacillus licheniformis at 50 degrees C, pH 8.0. This model can easily be applied to any hydrolytic process involving the appearance of functional groups that are partially protonizable under the working conditions in question in order to follow the kinetics of the reaction via the consumption of the neutralizing agent required to keep pH constant.

QSAR and molecular modeling studies of baclofen analogues as GABA(B) agonists. Insights into the role of the aromatic moiety in GABA(B) binding and activation.

An integrated QSAR/molecular modeling study is carried out on a series of baclofen analogues with the aim of addressing the role of their aromatic moiety in GABA(B) receptor binding and activation. The strong correlation found between electronic descriptors (HOMO and LUMO orbital energies) and the biological activity expressed as receptor binding is discussed also on the basis of available experimental mutagenesis data and of the results obtained from homology modeling of GABA(B) receptor. In particular, it can be inferred from the QSAR analysis that the ability of being involved in aromatic-aromatic pi interaction is the distinctive feature of the p-chlorophenyl moiety of baclofen. This conclusion is confirmed by homology modeling and docking studies which indicate that the p-chlorophenyl moiety of baclofen is disposed into a pocket formed by Tyr366 and Tyr395. These results are discussed in terms of mechanism of GABA(B) activation promoted by baclofen or GABA.

Conformational analysis of carboxyphenylglycine (CPG) derivatives: insight into bioactive and bioselective conformations of group-I mGluRs antagonists.

A series of carboxyphenylglycine (CPG) derivatives, endowed with diverse activity and selectivity at metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), were subjected to an extensive conformational analysis by employing molecular mechanics, semiempirical and ab initio methods. The comparison of the conformational profiles of active and inactive CPGs suggests a possible bioactive conformation characterized by a value of 10 degrees for the N-Calpha-C1Ph-C2Ph angle, with this conformation characterized by ammonium group of the amino acid moiety lying on the plane defined by the aromatic ring.