Production and applications of pullulan from lignocellulosic biomass: Challenges and perspectives.

Pullulan is an exopolysaccharide produced by Aureobasidium pullulans, with interesting characteristics which lead to its application in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and others. To reduce production costs for industrial applications, cheaper raw materials such as lignocellulosic biomass can be utilized as a carbon and nutrient source for the microbial process. In this study, a comprehensive and critical review was conducted, encompassing the pullulan production process and the key influential variables. The main properties of the biopolymer were presented, and different applications were discussed. Subsequently, the utilization of lignocellulosics for pullulan production within the framework of a biorefinery concept was explored, considering the main published works that deal with materials such as sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, corn straw, and corn cob. Next, the main challenges and future prospects in this research area were highlighted, indicating the key strategies to favor the industrial production of pullulan from lignocellulosic biomasses.

Interventions for preventing keratinocytic cancer in patients with a history of a previous keratinocytic carcinoma: A systematic review.

Keratinocyte cancer (KC) is the most common cancer worldwide. It is important to analyze the actual interventions that are available for the prevention of patients with a previous history of a KC. We aim to review the existent literature to assess the efficacy and safety of interventions to prevent KC in patients with a history of previous KC. We searched clinical trials in which the main outcome was the prevention of KC in patients with a previous history of KC using the strategy published in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO registry), CRD42016045981. We analyzed 18 clinical trials from which eight reported a benefit with their respective intervention but had methodological flaws and a variable risk of bias. Two clinical trials (regarding celecoxib and oral supplementation with nicotinamide) seemed to have the most beneficial results reducing the incidence of KC in treated groups. However, all of the studies are highly heterogeneous, which does not allow a meta-analysis to be performed. New studies with greater epidemiological value should be conducted.

Energetic metabolism in fasting sheep: regularization of metabolic profile by treatment with oral glucose, with prior handling of gastric groove

The objective of this research was to evaluate a possible corrective measure against negative metabolic states, as occurs in the advanced stage of gestation in ewes, and that sometimes produces a disease called pregnancy toxaemia. In the present research, we found that the joint administration of i.v. lysine-vasopressin (0.08 IU/kg body weight, BW) and an oral glucose solution (50 g) produces an increase in blood glucose, which persists for some time (up to 6 h); therefore, it could be used in the treatment of pregnancy toxaemia. This therapy is based on the fact that lysine-vasopressin induces gastric groove closure in adult ruminants, enabling orally administered glucose to reach the abomasum directly, from where it rapidly passes into the intestine and is immediately absorbed. We can say that the tested treatment causes a significant increase in blood glucose in ewes affected by toxaemia caused by fasting, which, although less marked than conventional therapy with intravenous drip glucose, remains longer, regularizing other parameters indicative of energy metabolism in fasting ewes.(AU)

Improved strength and durability of concrete through metabolic activity of ureolytic bacteria.

In recent years, biomineralization process is being employed in development of bioconcrete, which is emerging as a sustainable method to enhance the durability of concrete by way of increasing compressive strength and reducing the chloride permeability. In this study, different bacterial strains isolated from the soils of the Laguna Region of Mexico were selected for further study. ACRN5 strain demonstrated higher urease activity than other strains, and the optimum substrate concentration, pH, and temperature were 120 mM, pH 8, and 25 °C, respectively. Further, Km and Vmax of urease activity of ACRN5 were 21.38 mM and 0.212 mM min-1, respectively. It was observed that addition of ACRN5 at 105 cells ml-1 to cement-water mixture significantly increased (14.94%) in compressive strength after 36 days of curing and reduced chloride penetration. Deposition of calcite in bio-mortars was observed in scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction spectrometry analyses. Results of this study demonstrated the role of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation in improving the physico-mechanical properties of bio-mortars.

Mucosal delivery of liposome-chitosan nanoparticle complexes.

Designing adequate drug carriers has long been a major challenge for those working in drug delivery. Since drug delivery strategies have evolved for mucosal delivery as the outstanding alternative to parenteral administration, many new drug delivery systems have been developed which evidence promising properties to address specific issues. Colloidal carriers, such as nanoparticles and liposomes, have been referred to as the most valuable approaches, but still have some limitations that can become more inconvenient as a function of the specific characteristics of administration routes. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new drug delivery system that results from the combination of chitosan nanoparticles and liposomes, in an approach of combining their advantages, while avoiding their individual limitations. These lipid/chitosan nanoparticle complexes are, thus, expected to protect the encapsulated drug from harsh environmental conditions, while concomitantly providing its controlled release. To prepare these assemblies, two different strategies have been applied: one focusing on the simple hydration of a previously formed dry lipid film with a suspension of chitosan nanoparticles, and the other relying on the lyophilization of both basic structures (nanoparticles and liposomes) with a subsequent step of hydration with water. The developed systems are able to provide a controlled release of the encapsulated model peptide, insulin, evidencing release profiles that are dependent on their lipid composition. Moreover, satisfactory in vivo results have been obtained, confirming the potential of these newly developed drug delivery systems as drug carriers through distinct mucosal routes.

[Neutropenia induced by taxoids and its control with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor]. / Neutropenia inducida por taxanos y control con factores estimulantes de colonias.

Nowadays, the use of taxoid derivated compounds constitutes one of the main chemotherapeutic weapons against breast cancer, ovarian cancer and non-microcytic lung cancer. The limiting factor when determining the dose of taxoids to be administered is the occurrence of neutropenia which is a common side-effect of this therapy. That is why we propose this retrospective study in which we assessed docetaxel and paclitaxel induced neutropenia in oncologic patients by means of colony stimulating factors consumption. A systematic revision of filgastrin consumption by patients treated with taxoids during 2003 in the Infanta Cristina Hospital (Badajoz, Spain) was performed. Filgastrin consumption data were obtained individually, considering its dispensation to external patients as well as the possible administration during hospital stay. 22 out of the 140 patients treated with paclitaxel required colony stimulating factor. On the other hand, 27 out of 116 patients treated with docetaxel received filgastrin. The relation between filgastrin (micrograms) and taxoid consumption (milligrams) was 1.35 for paclitaxel and 4.17 for docetaxel. Taking into account each patient taxoids consumption (milligrams), the results were 7.09 for paclitaxel and 20.12 for docetaxel. When selecting the patients who suffer from breast cancer and lung cancer, these ratios were 0.76 for paclitaxel and 6.48 for docetaxel. The docetaxel group consumed 2.83 more colony stimulating factor than the pacitaxel group. This ratio was even greater (3.1) when ovarian cancer patients were excluded. These results showed an unfavorable relation for docetaxel, thus confirming that the use of docetaxel provokes a greater incidence and severity of neutropenia.

Neutropenia inducida por taxanos y control con factores estimulantes de colonias / Neutropenia induced by taxoids and its control with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

La utilización de los derivados del taxano (paclitaxel y docetaxel) constituye en la actualidad una de las principales armas terapéuticas en el tratamiento quimioterapéutico del cáncer de mama, de ovario y de pulmón no microcítico. La neutropenia es una de las principales reacciones adversas experimentadas por los pacientes en tratamiento, de tal forma, que se convierte en el factor limitante de la dosis administrada. Por lo cual, se planteo la realización de un estudio retrospectivo para valorar de forma indirecta la neutropenia inducida tras la administración de docetaxel y paclitaxel en pacientes oncológicos mediante el consumo asociado de factores estimulantes de colonias. Se realizó una revisión sistemática, en el Hospital Infanta Cristina de Badajoz (España), de todos los pacientes en tratamiento con taxanos durante el año 2003, comparando sus consumos con el consumo de filgrastim asociado. Los datos de consumo de filgrastim se obtuvieron por paciente, considerando tanto la dispensación como paciente externo como su posible administración durante la hospitalización. De los 140 pacientes tratados con paclitaxel 22 requirieron el factor estimulante de colonias; respecto a los pacientes con docetaxel 116 fueron tratados y 27 recibieron filgrastim. El consumo de filgrastim en microgramos respecto al consumo total de paclitaxel por miligramo fue de 1,35, mientras que para docetaxel la relación fue de 4,17 microgramos de filgrastim administrados por miligramo de docetaxel utilizado. Si se compara respecto a los miligramos de taxanos consumidos por los pacientes en estudio las relaciones son 7,09 y 20,12 para paclitaxel y docetaxel respectivamente. Si se seleccionan los pacientes con cáncer de mama y con cáncer de pulmón, estas relaciones son de 0,76 y de 6,48 respectivamente. Los datos obtenidos muestran una relación desfavorable para docetaxel, siendo el consumo asociado del factor estimulante de colonias 2,83 veces superior al de paclitaxel, cuando se excluyen los pacientes con cáncer de ovario esta relación aumenta hasta 3,1. Estos resultados confirman la mayor incidencia y severidad de la neutropenia inducida por docetaxel frente a paclitaxel