Unlocking hot trub's potential: a simple method for extracting bitter acids and xanthohumol.

BACKGROUND: Hot trub is a macronutrient- and micronutrient-rich by-product generated in the brewing industry, which is still underrated as a raw material for reprocessing purposes. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the extraction of bitter acids' and xanthohumol from hot trub as well as identify the significance of parameters for the process. The research assessed various extraction parameters, such as pH, ethanol concentration, temperature, and solid-to-liquid ratio, using a Plackett-Burman design. RESULTS: Ethanol concentration and pH were the most significant parameters affecting extraction yield. ß-acids were found to be the principal components of the bitter acids, with a maximum concentration near 16 mg g-1, followed by iso-α-acids and α-acids achieving 6 and 3.6 mg g-1, respectively. The highest yields of bitter acids were observed in the highest ethanol concentration, while pH was relevant to extraction process in treatments with low ethanol ratios. Concerning the xanthohumol extraction, the approach achieved maximum concentration (239 µg g-1) in treatments with ethanol concentration above 30%. Despite their variances, the phytochemicals exhibited comparable extraction patterns, indicating similar interactions with macromolecules. Moreover, the characterization of the solid residues demonstrated that the extraction process did not bring about any alterations to the chemical and total protein profiles. CONCLUSION: Ethanol concentration was found to have the most significant impact on the extraction of bitter acids and xanthohumol, while temperature had no significant effect. The solid remains resulting from the extraction showed potential for use as a protein source. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Combining a microphysiological system of three organ equivalents and transcriptomics to assess toxicological endpoints for cosmetic ingredients.

Animal testing for cosmetic ingredients and final products has been banned in Europe and is gaining legal force worldwide. However, the need for reliable testing methodologies remains for safety assessment of cosmetic ingredients. While new approach methodologies exist for many toxicological endpoints, some complex ones lack appropriate testing methods. Microphysiological systems (MPSs) have emerged as a promising tool to address this gap in pre-clinical testing, offering higher predictivity compared to animal models due to the phylogenetic distance between humans and animals. Moreover, they provide a more physiological approach than traditional in vitro testing by mimicking interconnections between different culture compartments as seen in complex organisms. This study presents a three-organ microfluidic MPS comprising skin, liver, and intestine equivalents. Combining this model with gene expression analysis, we evaluated toxicological endpoints of chemicals, demonstrating its potential for diverse applications. Our findings highlight the MPS model as a reliable and ethical method to be applied in an integrated approach for safety assessment in the cosmetic industry. It offers a promising strategy to evaluate toxicological endpoints for cosmetic ingredients and other chemicals, supporting the elimination of animal testing while ensuring consumer safety.

Flowing through Gastrointestinal Barriers with Model Nanoparticles: From Complex Fluids to Model Human Intestinal Epithelium Permeation.

Most nanomaterial-based medicines are intravenously applied since oral administration comprises challenging-related biological obstacles, such as interactions with distinct digestive fluids and their transport through the intestinal barrier. Moreover, there is a lack of nanoparticle-based studies that faithfully consider the above-cited obstacles and boost oral-administered nanomedicines' rational design. In this study, the physicochemical stability of fluorescent model silica nanoparticles (f-SiO2NPs) passing through all simulated gastrointestinal fluids (salivary, gastric, and intestinal) and their absorption and transport across a model human intestinal epithelium barrier are investigated. An aggregation/disaggregation f-SiO2NPs process is identified, although these particles remain chemically and physically stable after exposure to digestive fluids. Further, fine imaging of f-SiO2NPs through the absorption and transport across the human intestinal epithelium indicates that nanoparticle transport is time-dependent. The above-presented protocol shows tremendous potential for deciphering fundamental gastrointestinal nanoparticles' evolution and can contribute to rational oral administration-based nanomedicine design.

Oil-in-water emulsion gels stabilized with cellulosic polymers and chitosan: Themorheological and physical-chemical evaluation.

This research evaluated the use of different polymer ratios, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and methylcellulose (MC) with chitosan (CHI), in the production of emulgel by emulsification. The concentration was fixed at 2 % (w/v) for all polymers. 60/40 sunflower oil-in-water emulgels were made with a cellulosic polymer:chitosan ratio of (80:20), (70:30), and (60:40), respectively. The objective was to study how different proportions of a cellulosic polymer combined with chitosan can affect the stability, microstructure, and rheology of the emulgels to be used as potential oil carrier systems. Droplet size and microscopy results show oil-in-water (O/W) emulgels, and their interface was stabilized by mixing polymeric pairs, HPMC:CHI or MC:CHI. In the thermal analysis, it was identified in the entire temperature range studied (5 to 85 °C) that both emulgels, HPMC:CHI and MC:CHI, were presented as gels (G' > G″). Thus, the addition of CHI to the systems modified their gelling behavior. Microscopy revealed that the emulsions at the 7th and 10th week of storage showed similar characteristics to the fresh emulsion. Therefore, these results indicate that the emulgels present good thermal resistance, the predominance of elastic behavior, and can retain high concentrations of oil in their structure (96 to 99 %).

Thermo-rheological properties of chitosan hydrogels with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and methylcellulose.

Thermal and rheological properties of methylcellulose (MC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hydrogels with chitosan (CHI) were investigated to verify the potential application of these blends as structured systems for oil transport (emulgel, oleogels, and bigels). FTIR confirmed hydrophobic interactions of cellulosic polymers with chitosan. In the temperature sweep, the thermosensitive hydrogels showed their reduced gel point compared to the original polymers. The gelation temperature was reduced from 66.9 °C for pure HPMC to 43.6 °C and 43.6 °C (MC pure polymer) to 39.3 °C when 30% CHI was added for both cases. The addition of 20 and 30% chitosan is enough to modify the extension of the gelation temperature of these polymers. These results indicate that the addition of chitosan enables MC and HPMC to form gels at lower temperatures, which could allow milder thermal conditions to be applied in processing oil carrier systems.

Bacterial volatile organic compounds induce adverse ultrastructural changes and DNA damage to the sugarcane pathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis ethacetica.

Due to an increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, the adoption of microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as antagonists against phytopathogens has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to the use of agrochemicals. Here, we identified three Pseudomonas strains that were able to inhibit, in vitro, up to 80% of mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis ethacetica, the causal agent of pineapple sett rot disease in sugarcane. Using GC/MS, we found that these bacteria produced 62 different VOCs, and further functional validation revealed compounds with high antagonistic activity to T. ethacetica. Transcriptomic analysis of the fungal response to VOCs indicated that these metabolites downregulated genes related to fungal central metabolism, such as those involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Interestingly, genes related to the DNA damage response were upregulated, and micro-FTIR analysis corroborated our hypothesis that VOCs triggered DNA damage. Electron microscopy analysis showed critical morphological changes in mycelia treated with VOCs. Altogether, these results indicated that VOCs hampered fungal growth and could lead to cell death. This study represents the first demonstration of the molecular mechanisms involved in the antagonism of sugarcane phytopathogens by VOCs and reinforces that VOCs can be a sustainable alternative for use in phytopathogen biocontrol.

Effect of pH and Pea Protein: Xanthan Gum Ratio on Emulsions with High Oil Content and High Internal Phase Emulsion Formation.

Electrostatic interaction between protein and polysaccharides could influence structured liquid oil stability when emulsification is used for this purpose. The objective of this work was to structure sunflower oil forming emulsions and High Internal Phase Emulsions (HIPEs) using pea protein (PP) and xanthan gum (XG) as a stabilizer, promoting or not their electrostatic attraction. The 60/40 oil-in-water emulsions were made varying the pH (3, 5, and 7) and PP:XG ratio (4:1, 8:1, and 12:1). To form HIPEs, samples were oven-dried and homogenized. The higher the pH, the smaller the droplet size (Emulsions: 15.60-43.96 µm and HIPEs: 8.74-20.38 µm) and the oil release after 9 weeks of storage at 5 °C and 25 °C (oil loss < 8%). All systems had weak gel-like behavior, however, the values of viscoelastic properties (G' and G″) increased with the increment of PP:XG ratio. Stable emulsions were obtained at pHs 5 and 7 in all PP:XG ratios, and at pH 3 in the ratio 4:1. Stable HIPEs were obtained at pH 7 in the ratios PP:XG 4:1, 8:1, and 12:1, and at pH 5 at PP:XG ratio 4:1. All these systems presented different characteristics that could be exploited for their application as fat substitutes.

Covid-19 in the State of Ceará: behaviors and beliefs in the arrival of the pandemic. / COVID-19 no estado do Ceará, Brasil: comportamentos e crenças na chegada da pandemia.

This study aimed to evaluate the behavioral aspects and beliefs of the population of Ceará in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire was conducted on sociodemographic aspects and opinions related to the pandemic. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated, the association between variables was performed with Chi-square, and the level of significance was 5%. The final sample had 2,259 participants, and an association was observed between females and perceiving themselves with a high risk of infection (p = 0.044) and males with non-performance of voluntary quarantine (p < 0.001). People aged 80 years and over were partially quarantined due to the flow of people at home (p < 0.001). Participants with elementary school education had a lower risk of infection than participants with a higher level of education (p < 0.001). This group includes people who did voluntary quarantine the least (p < 0.001). Participants living in the inland region of the state had less direct contact with someone tested positive for the Coronavirus (p = 0.031) and are less reclusive (p < 0.001). We can conclude that the approach to the COVID-19 pandemic varies by social aspects, such as gender, age, education, and place of residence, as well as the belief system of the population of the State of Ceará.

COVID-19 in the State of Ceará: behaviors and beliefs in the arrival of the pandemic / COVID-19 no Estado do Ceará: Comportamentos e crenças na chegada da pandemia

This study aimed to evaluate the behavioral aspects and beliefs of the population of Ceará in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire was conducted on sociodemographic aspects and opinions related to the pandemic. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated, the association between variables was performed with Chi-square, and the level of significance was 5%. The final sample had 2,259 participants, and an association was observed between females and perceiving themselves with a high risk of infection (p=0.044) and males with non-performance of voluntary quarantine (p<0.001). People aged 80 years and over were partially quarantined due to the flow of people at home (p <0.001). Participants with elementary school education had a lower risk of infection than participants with a higher level of education (p <0.001). This group includes people who did voluntary quarantine the least (p<0.001). Participants living in the inland region of the state had less direct contact with someone tested positive for the Coronavirus (p=0.031) and are less reclusive (p<0.001). We can conclude that the approach to the COVID-19 pandemic varies by social aspects, such as gender, age, education, and place of residence, as well as the belief system of the population of the State of Ceará.

  O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os aspectos comportamentais e as crenças da população cearense frente a pandemia de COVID-19. Foi realizado um questionário onlinesobre aspectos sociodemográficos e opiniões relacionados a pandemia. Foram calculadas frequências absoluta e relativa, a associação entre variáveis foi realizada comQui-quadrado eo nível de significância foi de 5%. A amostra final contou com 2.259 participantes e foi observada associação entre o gênero feminino com um alto risco de contaminação (p=0,044) e o gênero masculino com a não realização voluntária da quarentena (p<0,001). Pessoas com 80 anos ou mais realizaram quarentena parcialmente devido ao fluxo de pessoas em casa (p<0,001).Os participantes com o ensino fundamental consideraram que estão em um nível de risco menos alto que os participantes com grau de escolaridade mais elevado (p<0,001). Neste grupo estão as pessoas que menos fizeram quarentena voluntária (p<0,001). Os participantes que moram no interior do Estado, tiveram menos contato direto com alguém testado positivamente para o coronavírus (p=0,031) e estão menos reclusos (p<0,001).É possível concluir que a abordagem frente a pandemia de COVID-19 varia de acordo com aspectos sociais, como gênero, idade, escolaridade e local de residência, assim como o sistema de crenças da população do Estado do Ceará.

COVID-19 no Estado do Ceará: Comportamentos e crenças na chegada da pandemia / Covid-19 in the State of Ceará: Behaviors and beliefs in the arrival of the pandemic

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os aspectos comportamentais e as crenças da população cearense frente a pandemia de COVID-19. Foi realizado um questionário onlinesobre aspectos sociodemográficos e opiniões relacionados a pandemia. Foram calculadas frequências absoluta e relativa, a associação entre variáveis foi realizada comQui-quadrado eo nível de significância foi de 5%. A amostra final contou com 2.259 participantes e foi observada associação entre o gênero feminino com um alto risco de contaminação (p=0,044) e o gênero masculino com a não realização voluntária da quarentena (p<0,001). Pessoas com 80 anos ou mais realizaram quarentena parcialmente devido ao fluxo de pessoas em casa (p<0,001).Os participantes com o ensino fundamental consideraram que estão em um nível de risco menos alto que os participantes com grau de escolaridade mais elevado (p<0,001). Neste grupo estão as pessoas que menos fizeram quarentena voluntária (p<0,001). Os participantes que moram no interior do Estado, tiveram menos contato direto com alguém testado positivamente para o coronavírus (p=0,031) e estão menos reclusos (p<0,001).É possível concluir que a abordagem frente a pandemia de COVID-19 varia de acordo com aspectos sociais, como gênero, idade, escolaridade e local de residência, assim como o sistema de crenças da população do Estado do Ceará.

The aim of this study as to evaluate the behavior al aspects and belief sof the population of Ceará in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire was conducted on sociodemographic aspects and opinions related to the pandemic. Absolute and relative requencies were calculated, the association between variables was performed with Chi-square and the level of significance as 5%. The final sample had 2,259 participants and an association was observed between the female gender with a high riskofcontamination (p = 0.044) and the male gender with voluntary non-performance of the quarantine (p <0.001). People aged 80 and over werepartiallyquarantinedduetotheflowofpeopleat home (p <0.001). Participants with primary education considered that they were at a lower risk level than participants with a higher level of education (p <0.001). In this group are the people who did the least voluntary quarantine (p <0.001). Participants who live in the interior of the state hadless direct contact with someone tested positive for the coronavírus (p = 0.031) and are lessinmates (p <0.001). It is possible to conclude that the approach to the COVID-19 pandemic varies according to social aspects, such as gender, age, education and place of residence, as well as the belief system of the population of the Stateof Ceará.(AU)

Complexation of chitosan with gum Arabic, sodium alginate and κ-carrageenan: Effects of pH, polymer ratio and salt concentration.

The effects of pH, ionic strength and polymer ratio in the complexation of chitosan (CHI) with different anionic polysaccharides, namely gum Arabic (GA), sodium alginate (ALG) and κ-carrageenan (CRG), were investigated. This was made using titration techniques, which allowed the determination of stoichiometry and binding constant of complexes. The sulfated polysaccharide interacted more strongly with CHI than carboxylated polysaccharides. The increase of ionic strength (0-100 mM NaCl) in the polysaccharides complexation resulted in a significant reduction in the binding constant of GA:CHI and CRG:CHI, but did not influence the complexation of ALG with CHI. The pH and polymer ratio affected the formation and solubility of complexes GA:CHI, while for ALG:CHI and CRG:CHI, insoluble complexes were observed in all pH and polymer ratio evaluated. A phase transition of coacervate to gel was proposed to ALG:CHI and CRG:CHI, which can be related to the self-association of anionic polymers, when these are in excess.

Chitosan coated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for loading Vitamin D: A physical stability study.

A nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) has been developed as a loading system for Vitamin D (VD). The NLCs were obtained by melt-emulsification method and coated with chitosan (CHI) by electrostatic deposition. The lipids used in the formulations were selected in order to provide higher encapsulation efficiency. Thermophysical properties of particles were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry; particle stability was characterized by size distribution, polydispersity index, zeta-potential and light backscattering. The coating over NLCs was carried out by potentiometric titration with CHI at concentrations of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% (w/v). Stearic (SA) and oleic acids (OA) were the lipids that showed higher compatibility with VD. The NLC 70(SA):30(OA) was the particle with the lowest polydispersity, size variation and less tendency to physical instability during the storage time. This formulation also presented encapsulation efficiency higher than 98%. In the particles coating, CHI adsorption into the colloidal dispersion provided an initial electrostatic stabilization of the system. A long-term steric barrier was established through further incorporation of CHI. Coated NLCs showed a core-shell structure and a positive zeta-potential (+30 mV), remaining stable for 60 days at 25 °C. During storage time, no expulsion of VD out of the particle was observed.

Comparison of microparticles produced with combinations of gelatin, chitosan and gum Arabic.

The complexation between proteins and/or polysaccharides has been studied during decades and despite the knowledge of how these interactions occur provides a basis for identifying the conditions of microparticle formation, the presence of the oil phase complicates the application of available theory to explain the complexation between polymers. In this work, we identified some parameters which can interfere with this interaction, highlighting the influence of molecular arrangements by modifying the combination of gelatin (GE) and gum Arabic (GA) including the chitosan (CHI), a comparatively stronger polycation, to form particles in the presence or not of an essential oil. The results indicated the influence of the polymeric system in the morphological structure of particles as well as in the capacity of oil retention. The encapsulation of oil was more efficient for systems containing GA, due to the ability of these systems to form complexes. However, GE-GA particles presented as multinucleous while CHI-GA as a mononucleous structure.

Severe cutaneous and arthritic psoriasis in patient with AIDS: a good outcome with therapy using etanercept.

We report the case of a patient with cutaneous and arthropathic psoriasis for eight years, whose sudden increased severity of the clinical picture led to a diagnosis of AIDS, emphasizing the importance of the specialist in the diagnosis of systemic diseases. The appropriate therapeutic interventions, including antiretroviral therapy and the immunobiological agent etanercept, enabled rapid improvement of symptoms and quality of life of the patient, besides contributing to delay in immunodeficiency progression.

Severe cutaneous and arthritic psoriasis in patient with Aids: a good outcome with therapy using etanercept / Psoríase cutânea e artropática grave em paciente com Aids: boa resposta terapêutica com uso de terapia com etanercepte

We report the case of a patient with cutaneous and arthropathic psoriasis for eight years, whose sudden increased severity of the clinical picture led to a diagnosis of AIDS, emphasizing the importance of the specialist in the diagnosis of systemic diseases. The appropriate therapeutic interventions, including antiretroviral therapy and the immunobiological agent etanercept, enabled rapid improvement of symptoms and quality of life of the patient, besides contributing to delay in immunodeficiency progression.

Relata-se o caso de um paciente com psoríase cutânea e artropática há oito anos, cujo agravamento súbito do quadro clínico levou ao diagnóstico da Aids, ressaltando a importância do especialista no diagnóstico de doenças sistêmicas. A intervenção terapêutica apropriada, incluindo a terapia antirretroviral e agente imunobiológico - etanercepte - possibilitou a rápida melhora do quadro clínico e da qualidade de vida do paciente, além de contribuir para o retardo na progressão da imunodeficiência.

Linear IgA/IgG bullous dermatosis: successful treatment with dapsone and mycophenolate mofetil.

A 21-year-old female presenting linear IgA and IgG disease initially responded well to dapsone therapy. However, the treatment with dapsone was withdrawn due to severe anemia induced by malaria, which led to worsening of the clinical picture. Although prednisone and methylprednisolone were tried, the patient responded only to the association of dapsone and mycophenolate mofetil.

Dermatose por IgA e IgG linear: relato de caso com boa resposta terapêutica à dapsona e ao micofenolato mofetil / Linear IgA/IgG bullous dermatosis: successful treatment with dapsone and mycophenolate mofetil

Relata-se o caso de paciente feminina, de 21 anos, com dermatose por IgA e IgG linear. Inicialmente, a resposta clínica foi favorável à dapsona. Após a interrupção desta medicação, por crise de anemia sintomática, precipitada por malária, houve piora da doença, apesar da utilização da prednisona e pulsoterapia com metilprednisolona. A reintrodução da dapsona, associada ao micofenolato mofetil, possibilitou o controle da enfermidade.

A 21-year-old female presenting linear IgA and IgG disease initially responded well to dapsone therapy. However, the treatment with dapsone was withdrawn due to severe anemia induced by malaria, which led to worsening of the clinical picture. Although prednisone and methylprednisolone were tried, the patient responded only to the association of dapsone and mycophenolate mofetil.

Do you know this syndrome?

Barraquer-Simons syndrome, also called acquired partial lipodystrophy or cephalothoracic lipodystrophy, is a rare form of progressive lipodystrophy, characterized by symmetrical lipoatrophy of subcutaneous adipose tissue starting in the head and spreading to the thorax, upper and lower limbs and thighs. In this work, we report the case of a patient with Barraquer-Simons syndrome without systemic complications.

Você conhece esta síndrome? / Do you know this syndrome?

A síndrome de Barraquer-Simons, também denominada lipodistrofia parcial progressiva ou lipodistrofia céfalo-torácica, caracteriza-se por perda progressiva do tecido celular subcutâneo, em direção crânio-caudal, de modo simétrico, iniciando na face e envolvendo progressivamente o tronco, membros superiores e inferiores, até as coxas. Nesse trabalho, relata-se o caso de paciente, com síndrome de Barraquer-Simons, sem associação com comorbidades sistêmicas.

Barraquer-Simons syndrome, also called acquired partial lipodystrophy or cephalothoracic lipodystrophy, is a rare form of progressive lipodystrophy, characterized by symmetrical lipoatrophy of subcutaneous adipose tissue starting in the head and spreading to the thorax, upper and lower limbs and thighs. In this work, we report the case of a patient with Barraquer-Simons syndrome without systemic complications.

Pyoderma gangrenosum: a clinical manifestation of difficult diagnosis.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon ulcerative cutaneous dermatosis associated with a variety of systemic diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, hematological malignancies, hepatitis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The pathogenesis of pyoderma gangrenosum remains unknown. Its diagnosis is usually based on clinical evidence and confirmed through a process of elimination of the other possible causes of cutaneous ulcers. This report describes a case of pyoderma gangrenosum with extensive ulceration that responded well to treatment.