In vitro and in vivo assessment of AFB1 and OTA toxic effects and the beneficial role of bioactive compounds. A systematic review.

The purpose of this review was to investigate the current knowledge about aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) toxicity and the possible beneficial role of bioactive compounds by using in vitro and in vivo models. Although AFB1 and OTA were tested in a similar percentage, the majority of studies focused on nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, immune toxicity and neurotoxicity in which oxidative stress, inflammation, structural damage and apoptosis were the main mechanisms of action reported. Conversely, several biological compounds were assayed in order to modulate mycotoxins damage mainly in the liver, brain, kidney and immune system. Among them, pumpkin, curcumin and fermented whey were the most employed. Although a clear progress has been made by using in vivo models, further research is needed to assess not only the toxicity of multiple mycotoxins contamination but also the effect of functional compounds mixture, thereby reproducing more realistic situations for human health risk assessment.

Allium sativum L. var. Voghiera Reduces Aflatoxin B1 Bioaccessibility and Cytotoxicity In Vitro.

The present work focuses on the evaluation of AFB1's bioaccessibility and cytotoxicity in vitro using bread (naturally contaminated) enriched or not enriched with fresh Voghiera garlic (2%). Two different experiments were carried out: experiment 1 (E1), with low-AFB1-concentration breads (1.6-1.7 mg/kg); and experiment 2 (E2), with high-AFB1-concentration breads (96.4-102.7 mg/kg). Eight breads were prepared, four for E1 (experiment 1) and another four for E2 (experiment 2), with each experiment having a control group (C), a garlic-enriched group (2%) (G), an AFB1 group (A), and an AFB1 + garlic group (A + G). Simulated digestion was performed on each type of bread, and gastric and intestinal digests were obtained. AFB1 content in flours, baked bread, and gastric and intestinal digests was measured by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Fluorescence Detection. The results demonstrate dose-dependent AFB1 bioaccessibility and that the presence of garlic contributed to its reduction in both doses (7-8%). Moreover, garlic's presence in AFB1-contaminated bread increased cell viability (9-18%) in differentiated Caco-2 cells and mitigated the arrest of S and G2/M phases provoked by AFB1 on Jurkat T cells and reduced apoptosis/necrosis, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial ROS by 16%, 71%, and 24% respectively. The inclusion of garlic as a functional ingredient helped relieve the presence and effects of AFB1.

The Protective Effect of Pumpkin and Fermented Whey Mixture against AFB1 and OTA Immune Toxicity In Vitro. A Transcriptomic Approach.

SCOPE: The aim of the study is to investigate in Jurkat cells the possible beneficial effect of pumpkin (P) and fermented milk whey (FW) mixture against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) induced alterations in gene expression profile. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human T cells are exposed for 7 days to digested bread extracts containing P-FW mixture along with AFB1 and OTA, individually and in combination. The results of RNA sequencing show that AFB1 P-FW exposure resulted in 34 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) while 3450 DEGs are found in OTA P-FW exposure and 3264 DEGs in AFB1-OTA P-FW treatment. Gene ontology analysis reveals biological processes and molecular functions related to immune system and inflammatory response. Moreover, PathVisio analysis points to eicosanoid signaling via lipoxygenase as the main pathway altered by AFB1 P-FW exposure whereas interferon signaling is the most affected pathway after OTA P-FW and AFB1-OTA P-FW treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The mitigation of genes and inherent pathways typically associated with the inflammatory response suggest not only the anti-inflammatory and protective role of P-FW mixture but also their possible application in food industry to counteract AFB1 and OTA toxic effects on human and animal health.

Cambios en la recuperación de la función motora en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular crónico / Mudanças na recuperação da função motora em pacientes com acidente cerebrovascular crônico / Changes of motor recovery in chronic stroke patients

Pocos estudios han analizado el curso de la recuperación motora durante la fase crónica del accidente cerebrovascular (ACV). Objetivo: determinar los cambios en la recuperación de la función motora en pacientes con ACV crónico. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo-descriptivo en 47 pacientes con secuelas motoras de ACV, con evolución mayor de 6 meses (promedio: 8 meses). Se analizaron los cambios funcionales entre dos registros consecutivos (tiempo promedio entre evaluaciones: 6 meses) en las escalas de Fugl-Meyer (FM), Prueba de caja y cubos, PASS, Rankin modificada, Índice de Barthel, Índice Funcional Compuesto y Ashworth modificada. Resultados: todo el grupo mostró cambios significativos hacia la recuperación funcional en todas las escalas (p < 0,01), a excepción del FM del miembro inferior. No obstante, los tamaños del efecto fueron pequeños. En los pacientes con evolución mayor de 12 meses disminuyeron el tamaño de los efectos y la significancia estadística. Conclusión: después de 6 meses de evolución, los pacientes con secuelas motoras por ACV muestran pequeños cambios hacia la recuperación funcional, que son estadísticamente significativos hasta 12 meses...

Few studies have evaluated changes in motor recovery during the chronic phase of stroke. Objective: To determine changes in motor function in chronic stroke survivors. Materials and methods: A retrospective-descriptive analysis was done of the records of 47 patients with motor sequelae of stroke with clinical evolution longer tan 6 months (average: 8 months). Functional changes obtained between two consecutive records (average time between assessments: 6 months) in scores of Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale (FM), Box and Block Test, PASS, Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), Barthel Index, Composite Functional Index, Modified Ashworth Scale were analyzed. Results: The whole group had significant changes toward functional motor recovery in all scales (p < 0.01), except for the FM in the lower limb. However, the sizes of the effect were small. In patients with evolution longer than 12 months, both the size of effectsand statistical significance diminished. Conclusion: After six months of evolution, patients with motor sequelae of CVA show small changes toward functional motor recovery, which are statistically significant until twelve months...

Poucos estudos analisaram o curso da recuperação motora durante a fase crônica do acidente cerebrovascular (ACV). Objetivo: determinar as mudanças na recuperação da função motora em pacientes com ACV crônico. Materiais e métodos: estudo retrospectivo-descritivo em 47 pacientes com sequelas motoras de ACV, com evolução maior de 6 meses (média: 8 meses). Analisaram-se as mudanças funcionais entre dois registos consecutivos (tempo médio entre avaliações: 6 meses) nas escalas de Fugl-Meyer (FM), Prova de caixa e cubos, PASS, Rankin modificada, Índice de Barthel, Índice Funcional Composto e Ashworth modificada. Resultados: todo o grupo mostrou mudanças significativas para a recuperação funcional em todas as escalas (p < 0,01), a exceção do FM do membro inferior. Não obstante, os tamanhos do efeito foram pequenos. Nos pacientes com evolução maior de 12 meses diminuíram o tamanho dos efeitos e a significância estatística. Conclusão: depois de 6 meses de evolução, os pacientes com sequelas motoras por ACV mostram pequeñas mudanças para a recuperação funcional, que são estatisticamente significativos até 12 meses...

Consideration of some sampling problems in the on-line analysis of batch processes by low-field NMR spectrometry.

A low-field medium-resolution NMR spectrometer, with an operating frequency of 29 MHz for 1H, has been assessed for on-line process analysis. A flow cell that incorporates a pre-magnetisation region has been developed to minimise the decrease in the signal owing to incomplete polarisation effects. The homogeneous esterification reaction of crotonic acid and 2-butanol was monitored using a simple sampling loop; it was possible to monitor the progression of the reaction through changes in CH signal areas of butanol and butyl crotonate. On-line analysis of heterogeneous water-toluene mixtures proved more challenging and a fast sampling loop system was devised for use with a 5 L reactor. The fast sampling loop operated at a flow rate of 8 L min(-1) and a secondary sampling loop was used to pass a sub-sample through the NMR analyser at a slower (mL min(-1)) rate. It was shown that even with super-isokinetic sampling conditions, unrepresentative sampling could occur owing to inadequate mixing in the reactor. However, it was still possible to relate the 1H NMR signal obtained at a flow rate of 60 mL min(-1) to the composition of the reactor contents.