Pharmacologic management of patients with hepatic and pancreatic diseases that involve immunosuppressive therapies. Position statement within the framework of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. / Manejo farmacológico de pacientes con enfermedades hepáticas y pancreáticas que involucran terapias inmunosupresoras. Posicionamiento en el marco de la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. COVID-19 affected more than 6million persons worldwide in fewer than 4 months, after the report of the first cases in China in December 2019. The relation of the disease caused by SARS-Cov-2 to immunosuppressive treatment used in different gastrointestinal disorders is uncertain, resulting in debate with regard to suspending immunosuppressive therapy to improve infection outcome. Said suspension implies the inherent risk for graft rejection or autoimmune disease exacerbation that can potentially worsen the course of the infection. Based on the presently available evidence, a treatment stance has been established for patients with gastrointestinal diseases that require immunosuppressive therapy.

Pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy and future treatment options. / Fisiopatología y opciones de tratamiento a futuro en la encefalopatía hepática.

Understanding of the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy has conditioned new treatment options. Ammonia detoxification in hepatic encephalopathy is regulated by two enzymes: glutaminase or glutamine synthetase. The first produces ammonia and the second detoxifies the ammonia, which is why treatments are aimed at glutaminase inhibition or glutamine synthetase activation. At present, we know that both enzymes are found not only in the liver, but also in the muscle, intestine, kidney, and brain. Therefore, current treatments can be directed at each enzyme at different sites. Awareness of those potential treatment sites makes different options of approach possible in the patient with hepatic encephalopathy, and each approach should be personalized.

Tackling Fraudsters with Global Strategies to Expose Fraud in the Food Chain.

Deliberate adulteration of food products is as old as food processing and production systems. Food adulteration is occurring increasingly often today. With globalization and complex distribution systems, adulteration may have a far-reaching impact and even adverse consequences on well-being. The means of the international community to confront and solve food fraud today are scattered and largely ineffective. A collective approach is needed to identify all stakeholders in the food supply chain, certify and qualify them, exclude those failing to meet applicable standards, and track food in a real time. This review provides some background into the drivers of fraudulent practices (economically motivated adulteration, food-industry perspectives, and consumers' perceptions of fraud) and discusses a wide range of the currently available technologies for detecting food adulteration followed by multivariate pattern recognition tools. Food chain integrity policies are discussed. Future directions in research, concerned not only with food adulterers but also with food safety and climate change, may be useful for researchers in developing interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary problems.

Prevalence of boar taint in commercial pigs from Spanish farms.

The presence of boar taint can affect the sensory quality of pork because the "off" odours and flavours can be detected by consumers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of boar taint in pig carcasses from 30 Spanish farms located in different regions of the country. Hot carcass weight and subcutaneous fat thickness means were 79.4±8.19 kg and 18.4±5.09 mm, respectively. Subcutaneous fat samples were classified into different levels according to androstenone and skatole concentrations in adipose tissue measured using GC-MS and HPLC. Androstenone results were: 87.4% of the carcasses below 0.50 µg/g, 7.1% from 0.50 to 1.00 µg/g (medium level), and 5.5% ≥1.00 µg/g (high level). Skatole results were: 88.9% of the carcasses below 0.10 µg/g, 4.5% from 0.10 to 0.20 µg/g (medium level), and 6.6% ≥0.20 µg/g (high level). Given these results, a future online method to classify carcasses according to boar taint is strongly recommended.

Effects of acerola fruit extract on sensory and shelf-life of salted beef patties from grinds differing in fatty acid composition.

The effects of added acerola fruit extract on sensory and shelf-life of beef patties were evaluated. Ground beef was obtained from young bulls fed one of four diets (CON: control, LIN: linseed, CLA: conjugated linoleic acid, LINCLA: LIN plus CLA). Pre-salted (1.8% w/w) beef patties (7.7% fat) with (0.15% w/w) or without acerola were packed in modified atmosphere (80%O2:20%CO2) and displayed in a retail case for 8days. There were no interactions between diet and antioxidant treatments. LIN and/or CLA had no effect on color and lipid stability during display. However, LIN increased n-3 fatty acids in beef and tended to increase intensity of rancid flavor. Addition of acerola extended shelf-life by at least 3 days by improving color and lipid stability and a decreased trend in intensity of rancid flavor of patties without affecting microbial counts. Thus, the use of acerola as a natural antioxidant can be considered an effective method to retard color and lipid oxidation in beef patties.

Increasing the added-value of onions as a source of antioxidant flavonoids: a critical review.

Flavonoids are a large and diverse group of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant effects. While the flavonoid content and composition profile clearly reflect the genetic background of the cultivar, environmental conditions and agronomic practices are also determinants for the composition of crops at harvest. Considerable research has been directed toward understanding the nature of polyphenols in different products and the factors influencing their accumulation. This review examines the flavonoids as a class of compounds, the role these compounds play in the plant, their contributions to product quality, and recent research on the impacts of environmental factors and cultural practices on flavonoid content in onions, highlighting how this knowledge may be used to modulate their polyphenolic composition at harvest or during post-harvest handling.

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction for the determination of phenolic compounds in olive oils.

A reliable, sensitive and effective method based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction (USAEME) coupled to HPLC-DAD has been developed to identify and quantify several target phenolic compounds from extra virgin olive oils (EVOO). This approach is based on the emulsification of a microvolume of polar organic extractant in a non-polar liquid sample by ultrasound radiation and further separation of both liquid phases by centrifugation. The percentage of methanol/water (v/v) in the extractant, the volume of extractant, and the extraction time as three effective parameters on the extraction were optimised by a central composite design (Box-Behnken response surface) method. The optimised method presented recoveries in EVOO between 91% and 115% for the target analytes (except vanillin with 65%) and a satisfactory precision with relative standard deviations (RSD%) lower than 8.4% for repeatability and reproducibility. The method showed good linearity and limits of detection and quantification were in the range 0.001-0.14 and 0.004-0.47mg/kg, respectively. After method validation, it was successfully applied to the analysis of three EVOO samples. All target compounds were detected in all analysed samples. Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol were the major phenolic compounds, followed by pinoresinol and luteolin.

Garnacha Tintorera-based sweet wines: detailed phenolic composition by HPLC/DAD-ESI/MS analysis.

Sweet wines are traditionally elaborated in Galicia (the N.W. corner of Spain). The denomination of origin (DO) Valdeorras, one of the five DOs in Galicia, wants to promote the production and marketing of new sweets wines. The first one is made with dried red grapes Vitis vinifera L. Garnacha Tintorera (GNSW); this cultivar is a teinturier cultivar which has excellent potential to produce wines from raisined grapes. The second one, a fortified sweet wine aged in oak barrels (GFSW). Additionally a dry young wine (GBW) was produced from the same variety. Their aroma profiles and chromatic characteristics (determined by simple spectrophotometric methods) have been previously established. Now, proanthocyanidins, flava-3-ol monomers, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavonols and resveratrol were determined by HPLC, for the same three wines. The highest concentration of total proanthocyanidins (PAs) was evaluated in the GBW (525mgL(-1)), which was about 2-fold the concentration in the GNSW (236mgL(-1)) and about more 10-fold the concentration in the GFSW (44mgL(-1)). No apparent difference in the aDP (mean degree of polymerisation) was observed for the GBW (1.9) and the GNSW (2.1), whereas a slightly lower value was obtained for the GFSW (1.5). Total anthocyanin concentration was described as follow as GBW: 390mgL(-1)≫GNSW: 57mgL(-1)>GFSW: 25mgL(-1), which indicates that sweet wines were polymerised in great extent. Only vitisin A and B were found the main concentration in GFSW when compared to GBW by the ageing process. In sweet wines, phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids) and flavonols were lowest when compared to GBW and resveratrol not was found in sweet wines.

Effect of pH(24h), curing salts and muscle types on the oxidative stability, free amino acids profile and vitamin B2, B3 and B6 content of dry-cured ham.

The effects of a curing salt composition (with and without nitrifying salts), and the pH at 24h postmortem (pH24>6.0, 5.5

Vitamin (B1, B2, B3 and B6) content and oxidative stability of Gastrocnemius muscle from dry-cured hams elaborated with different nitrifying salt contents and by two ageing times.

The effect of the amount of added nitrate and nitrate plus nitrite to dry-cured hams on the vitamin (B1, B2, B3, B6) content, the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was assessed in Gastrocnemius muscle at the end of two ripening processes. Five different curing mixtures (Hi-N: 600 KNO3; Lo-N: 150 KNO3; Hi-Mix: 600 KNO3+600 NaNO2; Lo-Mix: 150 KNO3+150 NaNO2; Hi-Mix/Asc: 600 KNO3+600 NaNO2+500 sodium ascorbate, expressed as mg of salts added on surface per kg of fresh ham) were evaluated in dry-cured hams aged for 11.5months (standard process, SP) and 22months (long process, LP). Minor differences in target parameters between the hams due to the process were found. The amount of nitrate when it was added alone or as a mixture of nitrate and nitrite, as well as the ascorbate addition to dry-cured hams did not affect vitamin B1, B2 and B3 contents. The level of vitamin B6 was affected by both the amount and the mixture of salts; the addition of nitrite reduced around 40% the content of vitamin B6, but it was not affected by nitrate or ascorbate. The activity of SOD and CAT decreased with the amount of nitrate and nitrite, while GSHPx and TBARS resulted unaffected.

Characterization of Longissimus thoracis, Semitendinosus and Masseter muscles and relationships with technological quality in pigs. 2. Composition of muscles.

The composition of three porcine muscles (Longissimus thoracis: LT, Semitendinosus: ST, Masseter: MS) was characterized and its link with muscle quality was evaluated. The LT muscle had a higher content of tyrosine, tryptophan, and carbohydrates and a lower content of vitamin E and haem iron than the MS muscle, while the ST had similar composition to MS but a lower content of haem iron. Large differences between muscles were observed in relative amounts of most of the major fatty acids. The LT muscle had higher saturated fatty acids (SFA) and n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio, and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFA:SFA ratio, unsaturation index and average fatty acid chain length than the ST and MS muscles. Muscle pH, redness and chroma were positively correlated with vitamin E and unsaturated lipids and negatively correlated with tyrosine, tryptophan, carbohydrates and saturated lipids, whereas muscle lightness and expressible juice showed similar correlations but an opposite sign with these variables.

Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico en la estenosis de uretra bulbar / Surgical Treatment Options in Bulbar Urethral Stenosis

Objetivo: Revisar los resultados de la uretroplastia bulbar utilizando dos técnicas quirúrgicas. Material y métodos: De 35 pacientes estudiados 22 corresponden a técnica de anastomosis término-terminal (ATT) y 13 a técnica de injerto libre dorsal (ILD) en sus variantes prepucial y bucal. En el seguimiento clínico se consideró fallo la necesidad de tratamiento quirúrgico o una flujometría inferior a 15ml/sg. Se estudian las variables: edad, cirugía previa, número de uretrotomías previas y longitud de estenosis. Se elaboran curvas de seguimiento y comparativas de log-rank (LR), con modelo de regresión Cox para factores de riesgo. Resultados: La media de seguimiento fue de 40,02 meses. Del total de casos el 85,71% fueron considerados éxito, un 86,36% en el grupo de ATT y un 84,61% en el grupo de ILD. No hubo diferencias significativas en las comparativas LR de longitud de estenosis, cirugía previa entre ambos grupos e individualizado para cada grupo de tratamiento. El modelo de regresión de Cox muestra un mayor riesgo de fallo en la técnica en aquellos pacientes de mayor edad (OR: 2,2), no alcanzando significación en el resto de variables. Conclusiones: Las tasas de éxito alcanzadas con el procedimiento ATT la ratifican como técnica de elección en estenosis corta, mostrando las estenosis largas de uretra bulbar un buen manejo u opción válida a medio plazo mediante injerto dorsal libre prepucial o bucal. Sería aconsejable realizar seguimientos a más largo plazo con mayor número de pacientes (AU)

Objective: To review the outcome of bulbar urethroplasty using two stage surgical techniques. Material and methods: Twenty-two of the 35 patients studied corresponded to end-to-end urethroplasty (ATT) and 13 to dorsal onlay graft (DOG) in preputial skin or oral mucosa variants. Clinical outcome was considered a failure when postoperative surgery was needed or the uroflowmetry was less than 15ml/s. The following variables were studied: age, previous surgery, number of urethrotomies and stricture length. The curves and log-rank Curves using the log-rank were elaborated for follow-up and comparison, with the Cox regression model for risk factors. Results: Mean follow-up was 40.02 months. Of all the cases. 85.71% were successful. Of these, 86.36% were in the ATT group and 84.61% in the DOG group. There were no significant differences in the comparative LR test based in stricture length, previous surgery between both group and individualized for each management. The Cox regression model showed a risk of failure in the technique for the elderly patients (OR 2.2), it not achieving statistical significance in the remaining variables. Conclusions: The success rate achieved with the ATT technique is verified a gold standard option in short strictures. The DOG is shown as a valid option in long strictures in bulbar urethral in medium follow-up, using a oral mucosa or preputial onlay graft. More long-term follow-up must be performed with a greater number of patients to better evaluate these results (AU)

[Surgical treatment options in bulbar urethral stenosis]. / Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico en la estenosis de uretra bulbar.

OBJECTIVE: To review the outcome of bulbar urethroplasty using two stage surgical techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two of the 35 patients studied corresponded to end-to-end urethroplasty (ATT) and 13 to dorsal onlay graft (DOG) in preputial skin or oral mucosa variants. Clinical outcome was considered a failure when postoperative surgery was needed or the uroflowmetry was less than 15ml/s. The following variables were studied: age, previous surgery, number of urethrotomies and stricture length. The curves and log-rank Curves using the log-rank were elaborated for follow-up and comparison, with the Cox regression model for risk factors. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 40.02 months. Of all the cases. 85.71% were successful. Of these, 86.36% were in the ATT group and 84.61% in the DOG group. There were no significant differences in the comparative LR test based in stricture length, previous surgery between both group and individualized for each management. The Cox regression model showed a risk of failure in the technique for the elderly patients (OR 2.2), it not achieving statistical significance in the remaining variables. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate achieved with the ATT technique is verified a gold standard option in short strictures. The DOG is shown as a valid option in long strictures in bulbar urethral in medium follow-up, using a oral mucosa or preputial onlay graft. More long-term follow-up must be performed with a greater number of patients to better evaluate these results.

Effect of vaccination against gonadotrophin-releasing factor on growth performance, carcass, meat and fat quality of male Duroc pigs for dry-cured ham production.

The aim of this study was to compare production, carcass and meat quality parameters, boar taint compounds and fat composition of green and dry-cured hams, between immunocastrated (IM), surgically castrated (CM) and female (FE) Duroc purebred pigs (n=75, 138.7±8.27kg). Liveweight and fat and muscle thicknesses were measured and average daily gain was calculated during growth. Carcass, meat and fat quality parameters were measured. Immunocastrated grew faster than CM or FE after the second dose of vaccine. IM had the lowest dressing percentage but similar % of ham and carcass lean to FE and CM. The effect of the immunocastration on carcass fatness depended on the location, did not affect fat and meat quality and reduced skatole and androstenone levels. Both in green and dry-cured ham, immunocastration slightly altered FA composition. Thus, Duroc pigs vaccinated with Improvac are suitable for the production of high quality dry-cured ham.

Effect of high pressure processing on the level of some purines and pyrimidines nucleosides and bases in dry cured and cooked ham.

The effect of high pressure (at 600 and 900MPa) on the levels of purines and pyrimidines was evaluated in dry-cured and cooked ham. Pressurization of dry-cured ham did not modify purines and pyrimidines contents. On the contrary, treatment at 600 MPa and 900MPa caused a decrease in guanosine and an increase in adenosine respectively.

Effect of high pressure processing on cholesterol oxidation products in vacuum packaged sliced dry-cured ham.

The effect of high pressure processing (at 600 and 900 MPa) on cholesterol oxidation products has been studied in vacuum packaged sliced dry-cured ham. Pressurisation of dry-cured ham at 600 MPa did not show changes in the contents of cholesterol oxidation products. However, the effect of pressurisation at 900 MPa produced a significant increase in the contents of 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7ß-hydroxycholesterol, ß-epoxycholesterol, α-epoxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol. In view of the results, at the pressure of 900 MPa, a strong damage of membrane could be produced and the potential production of harmful compounds in dry-cured ham as it was observed for cholesterol oxidation products.

Analysis of vitamin B1 in dry-cured sausages by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and diode array detection.

A method based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and diode array detection (DAD) was developed to quantify thiamine (vitamin B1) concentration in Spanish dry-cured sausages ("chorizo," "fuet," and "salchichón"). Samples were extracted with diluted acid (HCl 0.1M) followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis to release vitamin B1 vitamers from food matrix. Crude extracts were purified on a weak cation exchange SPE cartridge and total thiamine concentration was determined by LC-HILIC-DAD with a limit of detection better than 0.01 mg/100g. The proposed conditions, that do not require the derivatization of the extracts nor the use of fluorescence or MS detectors, are suitable to provide chromatographic separation and identification of vitamin B1 within 8 min. Selectivity, repeatability and accuracy of the method were evaluated with both spiked samples and the reference material Pig Liver BCR® 487. Quantification of vitamin B1 was also carried out for different kinds of commercial samples of Spanish dry-cured products.

Inter-laboratory comparison of methods to measure androstenone in pork fat.

Today, different analytical methods are used by different laboratories to quantify androstenone in fat tissue. This study shows the comparison of methods used routinely in different laboratories for androstenone quantification: Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NSVS; Norway), gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in Co-operative Central Laboratory (CCL; The Netherlands) and in Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA; Spain), and high-pressure liquid chromatography in Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station (ALP; Switzerland). In a first trial, a set of adipose tissue (AT) samples from 53 entire males was sent to CCL, IRTA and NSVS for determination of androstenone concentration. The average androstenone concentration (s.d.) was 2.47 (2.10) µg/g at NSVS, 1.31 (0.98) µg/g at CCL and 0.62 (0.52) µg/g at IRTA. Despite the large differences in absolute values, inter-laboratory correlations were high, ranging from 0.82 to 0.92. A closer look showed differences in the preparation step. Indeed, different matrices were used for the analysis: pure fat at NSVS, melted fat at CCL and AT at IRTA. A second trial was organised in order to circumvent the differences in sample preparation. Back fat samples from 10 entire males were lyophilised at the ALP labortary in Switzerland and were sent to the other laboratories for androstenone concentration measurement. The average concentration (s.d.) of androstenone in the freeze-dried AT samples was 0.87 (0.52), 1.03 (0.55), 0.84 (0.46) and 0.99 (0.67) µg/g at NSVS, CCL, IRTA and ALP, respectively, and the pairwise correlations between laboratories ranged from 0.92 to 0.97. Thus, this study shows the influence of the different sample preparation protocols, leading to major differences in the results, although still allowing high inter-laboratory correlations. The results further highlight the need for method standardisation and inter-laboratory ring tests for the determination of androstenone. This standardisation is especially relevant when deriving thresholds of consumer acceptance, whereas the ranking of animals for breeding purposes will be less affected due to the high correlations between methods.

Human fibrinogen patches application reduces intra-abdominal infectious complications in pancreas transplant with enteric drainage.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to analyze the incidence of intra-abdominal infectious complications after the application of a fibrinogen sealant to the duodenojejunal anastomosis in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants (SPK) with enteric drainage. METHODS: Results of 68 SPKs with enteric drainage were prospectively assessed. A fibrinogen and thrombin sheet was applied to the duodenojejunal anastomosis in 34 patients, who were compared to a control group of 34 patients. The incidence and severity of intra-abdominal infectious complications and the 1-year patient and grafts survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients experienced intra-abdominal infectious complications. Grade 1a complications occurred in the study group, whereas surgery was required only in patients from the control group: complications grade 3a (15%) and complications grade 3b (18%) (p = 0.003 vs. study group, respectively). The overall rate of anastomotic leakage (complications grade 2b and 3b) was 10%, all of which occurred in the control group. The length of hospital stay was higher in the control group was 34.6 ± 11.3 days vs. 22.8 ± 11.1 days (p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in 1-year patient and graft survival between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the application of fibrinogen and thrombin sheets was associated to a decrease in the number and severity of intra-abdominal infectious complications.