The Influence of Temperature, Storage Conditions, pH, and Ionic Strength on the Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters of Rowan Berry Extracts.

Recent trends in the food industry combined with novel methods in agriculture could transform rowan into a valuable raw material with potential technological applications. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the content of bioactive compounds in its fruits and to assess the color and antioxidant stability of the extracts prepared from such fruits during various thermal treatments and at different pH and ionic strength values. Various spectrophotometric methods, HPLC, and capillary electrophoresis were used to quantify the concentrations of bioactive compounds-polyphenols, carotenoids, organic acids, and to assess antioxidant activity and color. The results show that rowan berries contain circa 1.34-1.47 g/100 g of polyphenols among which include catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid methyl ester, procyanidin B1, etc.; ca 21.65 mg/100 g of carotenoids including zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-ß-carotene, and various organic acids such as malic, citric, and succinic, which result in a high antioxidant activity of 5.8 mmol TE/100 g. Results also showed that antioxidant activity exhibited high stability when the extract was subjected to various thermal treatments, pHs, and ionic strengths, while color was mainly impacted negatively when a temperature of 100 °C was employed. This data confirms the technological potential of this traditional, yet often overlooked species.

In vitro bioaccessibility of macular xanthophylls from commercial microalgal powders of Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

The bioaccessibility of the major carotenoids present in two commercial microalgal supplements in powder form was investigated through a standardized in vitro digestion method. The dried biomass of Arthrospira platensis contained ß-carotene (36.8 mg/100 g) and zeaxanthin (20.8 mg/100 g) as the main carotenoids as well as a high content of saturated fatty acids (61% of total fatty acids), whereas that of Chlorella pyrenoidosa was rich in lutein (37.8 mg/100 g) and had a high level of unsaturated fatty acids (65% of total fatty acids). In the case of the latter, lutein bioaccessibility was not statistically enhanced after the replacement of porcine bile extract with bovine bile extract in the in vitro digestion protocol and after the addition of coconut oil (17.8% as against to 19.2% and 19.2% vs. 18.5%, respectively). In contrast, the use of bovine bile extract along with co-digestion with coconut oil significantly enhanced the bioaccessibility of zeaxanthin from A. platensis, reaching the highest bioaccessibility of 42.8%.

A Brief Overview of Dietary Zeaxanthin Occurrence and Bioaccessibility.

As it exhibits no provitamin A activity, the dietary intake of zeaxanthin is not considered essential. However, its contribution to ocular health has long been acknowledged. Numerous publications emphasize the importance of zeaxanthin alongside lutein in ocular diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration which constitute an important health concern, especially among the elderly. Considering that the average dietary ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin favors the first, more bioaccessible food sources of zeaxanthin that can hinder the development and progression of the above-mentioned disorders are of great interest. In this paper, a brief overview of the more recent state of knowledge as regards dietary sources together with their respective zeaxanthin bioaccessibility assessed through a standardized in vitro digestion method was provided.

How to perform a late explantation of a Sapien XT transcatheter aortic prosthesis.

Starting as a therapeutically option for high-risk surgical patients with degenerative aortic valve stenosis, the transcatheter aortic valve implantation method is probably going to become the method of choice for this pathology also in younger and low-risk patients. As bioprosthesis are prone to degeneration, requiring a redo procedure, whenever a valve in valve procedure is contraindicated, a surgical valve replacement will become necessary. We describe a simple surgical method for explantation of a Sapien XT prosthesis that was implanted 7 years previously in a calcified aortic valve.

Sea Buckthorn Oil as a Valuable Source of Bioaccessible Xanthophylls.

Sea buckthorn oil, derived from the fruits of the shrub, also termed seaberry or sandthorn, is without doubt a strikingly rich source of carotenoids, in particular zeaxanthin and ß-carotene. In the present study, sea buckthorn oil and an oil-in-water emulsion were subjected to a simulated gastro-intestinal in vitro digestion, with the main focus on xanthophyll bioaccessibility. Zeaxanthin mono- and di-esters were the predominant carotenoids in sea buckthorn oil, with zeaxanthin dipalmitate as the major compound (38.0%). A typical fatty acid profile was found, with palmitic (49.4%), palmitoleic (28.0%), and oleic (11.7%) acids as the dominant fatty acids. Taking into account the high amount of carotenoid esters present in sea buckthorn oil, the use of cholesterol esterase was included in the in vitro digestion protocol. Total carotenoid bioaccessibility was higher for the oil-in-water emulsion (22.5%) compared to sea buckthorn oil (18.0%) and even higher upon the addition of cholesterol esterase (28.0% and 21.2%, respectively). In the case of sea buckthorn oil, of all the free carotenoids, zeaxanthin had the highest bioaccessibility (61.5%), followed by lutein (48.9%), making sea buckthorn oil a potential attractive source of bioaccessible xanthophylls.

Perioperative Patient Blood Management Programme. Multidisciplinary recommendations from the Patient Blood Management Initiative Group.

Patients with untreated anaemia or iron deficiency who undergo surgical procedures have an increased risk for mortality and morbidity. Patient Blood Management programmes address this issue worldwide and try to improve patient outcomes through a complex set of measures targeting anaemia correction, minimisation of bleeding and improvement of anaemia tolerance, in all phases of perioperative care. The Patient Blood Management Initiative Group is a multidisciplinary team of physicians from specialties including anaesthesiology, nephrology, surgery, orthopaedics, haematology, gastroenterology and transfusion medicine. The team has elaborated ten recommendations, divided into five categories, in order to implement a Patient Blood Management programme in Romania, using the most recent and relevant evidence. The document was discussed during three meetings which took place during October 2016 and May 2017 and the result was modified and updated via e-mail.

[Postoperative pain management in elderly patient]. / Managementul durerii postoperatorii la pacientul vârstnic.

Pain is a common occurrence for the hospitalized elderly, and may often be under recognized and inadequately managed. Insufficient pain management can lead to the sequelae of emotional distress and depression, delirium, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and physical disabilities, as well as increased health care costs. Effective pain management of the older adult begins with pain assessment using the proper tools. Morphine is the analgesic of choice for the older adult, and is appropriate for the postoperative period. It is important to maintain a therapeutic serum level of opioids to prevent inadequate management of the acute pain. Side effects of opioids include hypotension, nausea, mood disturbances, ileus, histamine production, and respiratory depression. The adage for pain treatment in the elderly is "start low and go slow". Paracetamol is commonly prescribed and may be the drug of choice for mild to moderate postoperative pain. Older adults may enjoy the benefits of Patient-Controlled Analgesia and Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia in the postoperative period; however, thorough and ongoing teaching must occur to ensure understanding and compliance with the therapy. Treating post-procedure pain in the elderly patient requires an understanding of the normal changes associated with aging and the impact on medications, and multimodal analgesia can be the best approach.

Tratamiento remineralizador de las manchas blancas: nuevos criterios en el tratamiento remineralizador de las manchas blancas / Remineralizing treatment of white spots: new criteria in remineralizing treatment of white spots

Se presenta un caso clínico piloto, en el marco de un protocolo de investigación clínica sobre remineralización de las manchas blancas. Se indican dos tipos de tratamientos efectuados, con y sin grabado previo del esmalte con ácido fosfórico al 35-42 por ciento y la aplicación de una pasta remineralizante a base de fosfopéptidos de la caseína/fosfato de calcio amorfo (MI Paste, Recaldent, G.C., Japan); complementada con la administración de goma de mascar con los mismos componentes (Trident, Recaldent, Adams). A los 60 días, se observó un notorio cambio de color en la zona desmineralizada grabada previamente con ácido, con respecto a la que no fuera grabada, indicando la maejor penetración del producto remineralizante al abrir los poros del esmalte desmineralizado (AU)

Tratamiento remineralizador de las manchas blancas: nuevos criterios en el tratamiento remineralizador de las manchas blancas / Remineralizing treatment of white spots: new criteria in remineralizing treatment of white spots

Se presenta un caso clínico piloto, en el marco de un protocolo de investigación clínica sobre remineralización de las manchas blancas. Se indican dos tipos de tratamientos efectuados, con y sin grabado previo del esmalte con ácido fosfórico al 35-42 por ciento y la aplicación de una pasta remineralizante a base de fosfopéptidos de la caseína/fosfato de calcio amorfo (MI Paste, Recaldent, G.C., Japan); complementada con la administración de goma de mascar con los mismos componentes (Trident, Recaldent, Adams). A los 60 días, se observó un notorio cambio de color en la zona desmineralizada grabada previamente con ácido, con respecto a la que no fuera grabada, indicando la maejor penetración del producto remineralizante al abrir los poros del esmalte desmineralizado