An ELISA-based method for Galleria mellonella apolipophorin-III quantification.

Mammalian models, such as murine, are used widely in pathophysiological studies because they have a high degree of similarity in body temperature, metabolism, and immune response with humans. However, non-vertebrate animal models have emerged as alternative models to study the host-pathogen interaction with minimal ethical concerns. Galleria mellonella is an alternative model that has proved useful in studying the interaction of the host with either bacteria or fungi, performing drug testing, and assessing the immunological response to different microorganisms. The G. mellonella immune response includes cellular and humoral components with structural and functional similarities to the immune effectors found in higher vertebrates, such as humans. An important humoral effector stimulated during infections is apolipophorin III (apoLp-III), an opsonin characterized by its lipid and carbohydrate-binding properties that participate in lipid transport, as well as immunomodulatory activity. Despite some parameters, such as the measurement of phenoloxidase activity, melanin production, hemocytes counting, and expression of antimicrobial peptides genes are already used to assess the G. mellonella immune response to pathogens with different virulence degrees, the apoLp-III quantification remains to be a parameter to assess the immune response in this invertebrate. Here, we propose an immunological tool based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that allows apoLp-III quantification in the hemolymph of larvae challenged with pathogenic agents. We tested the system with hemolymph coming from larvae infected with Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix globosa, and Sporothrix brasiliensis. The results revealed significantly higher concentrations of apoLp-III when each microbial species was inoculated, in comparison with untouched larvae, or inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline. We also demonstrated that the apoLp-III levels correlated with the strains' virulence, which was already reported. To our knowledge, this is one of the first attempts to quantify apoLp-III, using a quick and easy-to-use serological technique.

Predictors of retrieval and long-term mortality in patients treated with inferior vena cava filters.

OBJECTIVE: Inferior vena cava filters (VCFs) are a therapeutic resource for the treatment of patients with thromboembolic disease who have a contraindication to full-dose anticoagulation. In the present study, we report the retrieval rate and long-term mortality of patients receiving optional inferior VCFs and identify the predictors for retrieval and all-cause mortality during follow-up. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 739 consecutive recipients of optional inferior VCFs from January 2002 to December 2021 in two hospitals. Different clinical characteristics and procedure-related variables were included in the analysis. The all-cause mortality rate and retrieval rate and the predictive factors were evaluated using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 739 patients, 393 (53%) were women. The mean patient age was 69 ± 15 years. Of the patients, 67% presented with pulmonary thromboembolism and 43% with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A contraindication to anticoagulation was present for nearly 90% of the patients, mainly (47%) related to the surgical procedure. In addition, 44% of the patients had active cancer. Follow-up data were available for 94% of the patients, with an average follow-up time of 6.08 ± 5.83 years. Long-term mortality was 53%. Cancer (odds ratio [OR], 3.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.22-5.83), age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.08-1.42), and DVT (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.08-1.42) were identified as independent predictors of mortality. The retrieval rate at follow-up was 33%. The predictors for retrieval included the indication of the filter related to a surgical procedure (OR, 4.85; 95% CI, 2.54-9.59), the absence of cancer (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.45-5.75), and younger age (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: High long-term mortality was observed. The predictors of mortality were cancer, older age, and DVT. One third of the filters implanted were retrieved. The predictors for retrieval were a contraindication to surgery-related anticoagulation, the absence of cancer, and younger age.

Differential Recognition of Clinically Relevant Sporothrix Species by Human Granulocytes.

Sporotrichosis is a cutaneous mycosis that affects humans and animals and has a worldwide distribution. This infection is mainly caused by Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix globosa. Current research about anti-Sporothrix immunity has been mainly focused on S. schenckii and S. brasiliensis, using different types of human or animal immune cells. Granulocytes are a group of cells relevant for cytokine production, with the capacity for phagocytosis and the generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Considering their importance, this study aimed to compare the capacity of human granulocytes to stimulate cytokines, uptake, and form NETs when interacting with different Sporothrix species. We found that conidia, germlings, and yeast-like cells from S. schenckii, S. brasiliensis, and S. globosa play an important role in the interaction with these immune cells, establishing morphology- and species-specific cytokine profiles. S. brasil-iensis tended to stimulate an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, whilst the other two species had a proinflammatory one. S. globosa cells were the most phagocytosed cells, which occurred through a dectin-1-dependent mechanism, while the uptake of S. brasiliensis mainly occurred via TLR4 and CR3. Cell wall N-linked and O-linked glycans, along with ß-1,3-glucan, played a significant role in the interaction of these Sporothrix species with human granulocytes. Finally, this study indicates that conidia and yeast-like cells are capable of inducing NETs, with the latter being a better stimulant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports the cytokine profiles produced by human granulocytes interacting with Sporothrix cells.

Assessment of Chemical, Physico-Chemical and Sensory Properties of Low-Sodium Beef Burgers Formulated with Flours from Different Mushroom Types.

It is now widely demonstrated that excessive salt consumption can cause various health problems, and meat products are among the foods most consumed with a high salt content. For that, the aim of this work was to assess the effects of the utilization of flours obtained from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), and portobello mushrooms (Agaricus brunnescen) as salt replacers on chemical, physicochemical, and sensory properties of beef burgers. The fat and protein content was not affected by the inclusion of mushroom flour, while the sodium content was reduced by 55-61% compared to the control sample. The control sample had the lowest values for cooking loss and shrinkage (12.29 and 18.69%, respectively) whilst the reformulated samples had higher values ranging between 16.08 and 18.88% for cooking loss, respectively, and between 19.55 and 28.25% for shrinkage, respectively. The reformulated samples showed higher lipid oxidation values (ranging from 0.18 and 0.20 mg malondialdehyde/kg sample) than the control sample. Sensorially, all parameters analyzed were not affected by the replacement of sodium chloride by the different mushroom flours. The use of flours obtained from different mushroom flours is a viable alternative to be used as sodium chloride replacers in the preparation of beef burgers.

Quality Characteristics of Fresh Date Palm Fruits of "Medjoul" and "Confitera" cv. from the Southeast of Spain (Elche Palm Grove).

The quality characteristics (physical, techno-functional, and chemical) of date fruits (at the tamar stage) of two cultivars ("Confitera", autochthonous and unknown vs. "Medjoul", widely distributed and well-known), grown in the Southeast of Spain (Elche palm grove) were evaluated in order to reinforce decisions aimed at organizing the production of fresh dates from Elche by selecting the most profitable cultivar. Morphologically, Confitera dates were longer and with higher pulp yield than Medjoul dates (4.58 cm vs. 3.88 cm, and 84% vs. 78%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Nutritionally, both dates are a good source of carbohydrates (total sugars (43-48%) and dietary fiber (20-22%)), with small amounts of fat and proteins. The main free sugars in dates from both cultivars were glucose and fructose (reducing sugars). The most abundant mineral found in both date fruits were K, followed by Ca or Mg (depending on the cultivar; Ca in Medjoul and Mg in Confitera). Confitera dates showed a higher total antioxidant activity than Medjoul, corresponding with their higher (p < 0.05) content in polyphenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids (catechin and epicatechin predominantly). Confitera dates should be promoted in this region not only for their contribution to sustainable agricultural development and biodiversity, but also for their higher overall quality.

Current Progress in Sporothrix brasiliensis Basic Aspects.

Sporotrichosis is known as a subacute or chronic infection, which is caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. It is a cosmopolitan infection, which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and can affect both humans and other mammals. The main etiological agents causing this disease are Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix globosa, which have been recognized as members of the Sporothrix pathogenic clade. Within this clade, S. brasiliensis is considered the most virulent species and represents an important pathogen due to its distribution and prevalence in different regions of South America, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, and Central American countries, such as Panama. In Brazil, S. brasiliensis has been of great concern due to the number of zoonotic cases that have been reported over the years. In this paper, a detailed review of the current literature on this pathogen and its different aspects will be carried out, including its genome, pathogen-host interaction, resistance mechanisms to antifungal drugs, and the caused zoonosis. Furthermore, we provide the prediction of some putative virulence factors encoded by the genome of this fungal species.

Host-guest complexation of phthalimide-derived strigolactone mimics with cyclodextrins. Application in agriculture against parasitic weeds.

Parasitic weeds are noxious plants that damage crops of economic relevance, especially in Mediterranean and African countries. The strategy of suicidal germination was proposed to deal with this plague by using seed germination inducers that work as a pre-emergence herbicide and reduce the parasitic seed load before sowing. N-Substituted phthalimides with a furanone ring were found to be efficient in inducing the germination of Phelipanche ramosa and Orobanche cumana, two of the most problematic parasitic weeds of crops. However, the solubility of these compounds in water is low. A strategy for enhancing their aqueous solubility is the synthesis of host-guest complexes with cyclodextrins. Three bioactive phthalimide-lactones (PL01, PL04, and PL07) were selected and studied to form complexes of increased water solubility with α-, ß-, HP-ß-, and γ-cyclodextrin. The complexes obtained by the coprecipitation method, with increased aqueous solubility (up to 3.8 times), were studied for their bioactivity and they showed similar or slightly higher bioactivity than free phthalimide-lactones, even without the addition of organic solvents. A theoretical study using semiempirical calculations of molecular models including a solvation system confirmed the physicochemical empirical results. These results demonstrated that cyclodextrins can be used to improve the physicochemical and biological properties of parasitic seed germination inducers.

Candida haemulonii Complex and Candida auris: Biology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response, and Multidrug Resistance.

There is worldwide concern about the constant increase in infections caused by Candida species that are multiresistant to antifungal drugs. The most common candidiasis is caused by Candida albicans, however, the species of the Candida haemulonii complex and Candida auris are emerging opportunistic pathogens, which isolation from clinical samples has significantly increased in the past years. The special interest in the study of these species lies in their ability to evade the action of antifungal drugs, such as amphotericin B, azoles, and echinocandins. In addition, the phenotypic changes of these species have given them the ability to easily adapt to environmental changes, including the host milieu and immunity. In this paper, a detailed review of the current literature on the C. haemulonii complex and C. auris is shown, analyzing aspects such as biology, immune response, putative virulence factors, infection, treatment, and the current strategies for diagnosis.

Chitosan Edible Films and Coatings with Added Bioactive Compounds: Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties and Their Application to Food Products: A Review.

Chitosan is the deacetylated form of chitin regarded as one of the most abundant polymers and due to its properties, both chitosan alone or in combination with bioactive substances for the production of biodegradable films and coatings is gaining attention in terms of applications in the food industry. To enhance the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of chitosan, a vast variety of plant extracts have been incorporated to meet consumer demands for more environmentally friendly and synthetic preservative-free foods. This review provides knowledge about the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of chitosan films and coatings enriched with natural extracts as well as their applications in various food products and the effects they had on them. In a nutshell, it has been demonstrated that chitosan can act as a coating or packaging material with excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in addition to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. However, further research should be carried out to widen the applications of bioactive chitosan coatings to more foods and industries as well was their industrial scale-up, thus helping to minimize the use of plastic materials.

Impact of infections and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae on graft and patient survival in a kidney transplantation program in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosuppressive treatments have improved graft and patient survival rates, but can increase the incidence of post-transplant infections. OBJECTIVES: To analyze data from kidney transplant patients and describe the pathogens responsible for the infections they experience. METHODS: Longitudinal, analytical, observational study of 103 patients who underwent kidney transplantation. The follow-up period was 5.07 ± 1.28 years. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 10.68% and graft loss rate was 14.56%. Regarding recipient risk of death, the Cox regression model showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 5.66 for positive bacterial cultures and 2.22 for positive extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains; as for graft loss, HR was 4.59 in those with positive bacterial cultures and 4.25 in those who were positive for ESBL-producing strains. CONCLUSIONS: Significant death risk was found in kidney transplant recipients with positive bacterial cultures and an increased risk of graft loss in those with positive bacterial cultures and in those who were positive for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The rate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae is high, and stricter strategies are therefore necessary to control the use of antibiotics.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los tratamientos inmunosupresores han mejorado las tasas de supervivencia del injerto y del paciente, pero pueden incrementar las infecciones postrasplante. OBJETIVOS: Analizar los datos de pacientes con trasplante renal y describir las bacterias responsables de las infecciones que presentan. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, longitudinal y analítico de 103 pacientes sometidos a trasplante renal. El periodo de seguimiento fue de 5.07 ± 1.28 años. RESULTADOS: La tasa de mortalidad fue de 10.68 % y la de pérdida del injerto de 14.56 %. Respecto al riesgo de muerte del receptor, el modelo de regresión de Cox mostró un cociente de riesgo (HR, hazard ratio) de 5.66 en los pacientes con cultivo bacteriano positivo y de 2.22 en aquellos con cepas productoras de betalactamasas de espectro extendido (BLEE); en cuanto a la pérdida del injerto, el HR fue de 4.59 en quienes tuvieron cultivo bacteriano positivo y de 4.25 en aquellos con cepas productoras de BLEE. CONCLUSIONES: Se encontró riesgo significativo de muerte en receptores de trasplante renal con cultivo bacteriano positivo y mayor riesgo de pérdida del injerto en aquellos con cultivo bacteriano positivo y aislamiento de cepas productoras de BLEE. La tasa de enterobacterias productoras de BLEE es alta, por ello son necesarias estrategias más estrictas para controlar del uso de antibióticos.

Development of Chincho (Tagetes elliptica Sm.) Essential Oil Organogel Nanoparticles through Ionic Gelation and Process Optimization with Box-Behnken Design.

The aim of this work was to obtain chitosan nanoparticles (<1000 nm) with chincho (Tagetes elliptica Sp.) essential oil (CEO-CSNPs) using the ionic gelation method. A Box−Behnken design (BBD) was applied, using chitosan solution (CS) pH (4.0, 4.4, 4.8); the mass ratio of CS/CEO (1:0.7, 1:0.85, 1:1.0) and the mass ratio of CS/CS-tripolyphosphate (1:0.46, 1:0.58, 1:0.7) as independent variables. The formulation-dependent variables, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) of the CEO-CSNPs were evaluated. BBD determined that optimal conditions for CEO-CSNPs were pH: 4.4, CS/CEO mass ratio 1:0.7 and CS/TPP mass ratio 1:0.46. Once the optimization was defined, particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PDI), CEO-CSNPs morphological studies, in vitro CEO release, and antibacterial activity were determined. The CEO-CSNPs showed an EE of 52.64% and a LC of 11.56%, with a diameter of 458.5 nm, with a ZP of 23.30mV, and a PDI of 0.418. The SEM studies showed that the nanoparticles were rounded and had uniform shapes. In addition, CEO-CSNPs showed a minimum inhibitory concentration against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella infantis and Escherichia coli of 5.29, 10.57 and 10.57 µg/mL, respectively. These results could be very useful for the stabilization of chincho essential oil for food industry purposes. However, several studies about the release, as well as interaction with food matrices, will be necessary.

Impacto de infecciones y enterobacterias productoras de betalactamasa de espectro extendido en la supervivencia del injerto y del paciente en un programa de trasplante renal en México / Impact of infections and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae on graft and patient survival in a kidney transplantation program in Mexico

Resumen Introducción: Los tratamientos inmunosupresores han mejorado las tasas de supervivencia del injerto y del paciente, pero pueden incrementar las infecciones postrasplante. Objetivos: Analizar los datos de pacientes con trasplante renal y describir las bacterias responsables de las infecciones que presentan. Métodos: Estudio observacional, longitudinal y analítico de 103 pacientes sometidos a trasplante renal. El periodo de seguimiento fue de 5.07 ± 1.28 años. Resultados: La tasa de mortalidad fue de 10.68 % y la de pérdida del injerto de 14.56 %. Respecto al riesgo de muerte del receptor, el modelo de regresión de Cox mostró un cociente de riesgo (HR, hazard ratio) de 5.66 en los pacientes con cultivo bacteriano positivo y de 2.22 en aquellos con cepas productoras de betalactamasas de espectro extendido (BLEE); en cuanto a la pérdida del injerto, el HR fue de 4.59 en quienes tuvieron cultivo bacteriano positivo y de 4.25 en aquellos con cepas productoras de BLEE. Conclusiones: Se encontró riesgo significativo de muerte en receptores de trasplante renal con cultivo bacteriano positivo y mayor riesgo de pérdida del injerto en aquellos con cultivo bacteriano positivo y aislamiento de cepas productoras de BLEE. La tasa de enterobacterias productoras de BLEE es alta, por ello son necesarias estrategias más estrictas para controlar del uso de antibióticos.

Abstract Introduction: Immunosuppressive treatments have improved graft and patient survival rates, but can increase the incidence of post-transplant infections. Objectives: To analyze data from kidney transplant patients and describe the pathogens responsible for the infections they experience. Methods: Longitudinal, analytical, observational study of 103 patients who underwent kidney transplantation. The follow-up period was 5.07 ± 1.28 years. Results: Overall mortality rate was 10.68% and graft loss rate was 14.56%. Regarding recipient risk of death, the Cox regression model showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 5.66 for positive bacterial cultures and 2.22 for positive extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains; as for graft loss, HR was 4.59 in those with positive bacterial cultures and 4.25 in those who were positive for ESBL-producing strains Conclusions: Significant death risk was found in kidney transplant recipients with positive bacterial cultures and an increased risk of graft loss in those with positive bacterial cultures and in those who were positive for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The rate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae is high, and stricter strategies are therefore necessary to control the use of antibiotics.

In Silico Evaluation of Sesquiterpenes and Benzoxazinoids Phytotoxins against Mpro, RNA Replicase and Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 by Molecular Dynamics. Inspired by Nature.

In the work described here, a number of sesquiterpenes and benzoxazinoids from natural sources, along with their easily accessible derivatives, were evaluated against the main protease, RNA replicase and spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular docking. These natural products and their derivatives have previously shown remarkable antiviral activities. The most relevant compounds were the 4-fluoro derivatives of santamarine, reynosin and 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one in terms of the docking score. Those compounds fulfill the Lipinski's rule, so they were selected for the analysis by molecular dynamics, and the kinetic stabilities of the complexes were assessed. The addition of the 4-fluorobenzoate fragment to the natural products enhances their potential against all of the proteins tested, and the complex stability after 50 ns validates the inhibition calculated. The derivatives prepared from reynosin and 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one are able to generate more hydrogen bonds with the Mpro, thus enhancing the stability of the protein-ligand and generating a long-term complex for inhibition. The 4-fluoro derivate of santamarine and reynosin shows to be really active against the spike protein, with the RMSD site fluctuation lower than 1.5 Å. Stabilization is mainly achieved by the hydrogen-bond interactions, and the stabilization is improved by the 4-fluorobenzoate fragment being added. Those compounds tested in silico reach as candidates from natural sources to fight this virus, and the results concluded that the addition of the 4-fluorobenzoate fragment to the natural products enhances their inhibition potential against the main protease, RNA replicase and spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Effect of Gelled Emulsions Elaborated with Soybean Oil, Maca (Lepidium meyenni) Flour, and Chincho (Tagetes elliptica Sm.) Essential Oil upon Animal Fat Substitution in Beef Burgers.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pork backfat (PB) substitution in a meat burger with a gelled emulsion (GE) elaborated with maca flour, soybean oil, and chincho essential oil (CEO). Lipid profile (gas chromatography­GC), health indices, physicochemical properties (CIELAB color, pH, texture profile­TPA), and cooking and sensory characteristics of meat burgers were analyzed. Five formulations were evaluated: control (BC) (80% beef meat and 20% PB); BSM (10% PB + 10% GE); BSMC0.25 (BSM + 0.25% CEO); BSMC0.5 (BSM + 0.5% CEO), and BSMC1.0 (BSM + 1.0% CEO). GE substitution in meat burgers provided a healthier lipid profile; the amount of SFA was reduced (p < 0.05), while PUFA content was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the use of GE resulted in healthier PUFA/SFA ratios and lower atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. The addition of GE increased moisture content and decreased fat and protein contents. Color parameters (L*, b*, and C*) decreased after cooking. Hardness (p < 0.05), cooking losses, and shrinkage changes decreased with GE addition. Lipid oxidation levels were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by GE substitution. Therefore, the substitution of PB by GE can be considered as an effective strategy to produce healthier meat burgers without negatively affecting their physicochemical and technological properties.

Optimization through a Box-Behnken Experimental Design of the Microwave-Assisted Extraction of the Psychoactive Compounds in Hallucinogenic Fungi (Psylocibe cubensis).

Hallucinogenic fungi, mainly those from the Psilocybe genus, are being increasingly consumed even though there is no control on their culture conditions. Due to the therapeutic potential as antidepressants and anxiolytics of the alkaloids that they produce (psilocin and psilocybin), some form of control on their production would be highly recommended. Prior to identifying their optimal culture condition, a methodology that allows their study is required. Microwave-assisted extraction method (MAE) is a technique that has proven its efficiency to extract different compounds from solid matrices. For this reason, this study intends to optimize a MAE method to extract the alkaloids found in Psylocibe cubensis. A surface-response Box-Behnken design has been employed to optimize such extraction method and significantly reduce time and other resources in the extraction process. Based on the Box-Behnken design, 50 °C temperature, 60% methanol as extraction solvent, 0.6 g:10 mL sample mass:solvent ratio and 5 min extraction time, were established as optimal conditions. These mild conditions, combined with a rapid and efficient UHPLC analysis result in a practical and economical methodology for the extraction of psilocin and psilocybin from Psylocibe cubensis.

An Analysis of Biomechanical Parameters in OTP Police Physical Intervention Techniques for Occupational Risk Prevention.

(1) Background: a set of ergonomic parameters that are relevant for risk assessment methods for the prevention of occupational risks, such as REBA or NIOSH, have been measured by means of inertial sensors that allow capturing the movements of the human body. These methods base their assessment on a number of postural and dynamic parameters. In the case of police physical intervention techniques, trunk, legs, arms, forearms and wrists angles, joint contact force and sheer force at the L5-Pelvic junction, asymmetry (angle and factor), and muscle power are the more relevant parameters to be considered. (2) Method: The data have been collected by means of a motion capture suit equipped with 19 inertial sensors. The large amount of data and the 3-dimensional plots have been managed by a powerful software package specific for ergonomic analysis. The police physical intervention technique used was OTP. (3) Results: Five ergonomic parameters in a traditional police physical intervention technique have been analyzed. REBA scores and ergonomic metrics have been recorded and discussed with some prevention risk limits from the literature. (4) Conclusions: the usage of inertial sensors to capture the movements in OTPs provides a new and quite an efficient viewpoint for occupational risk research studies.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the RDW for Predicting Death in COVID-19.

Background and Objectives: An association between high red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mortality has been found in several diseases, including infection and sepsis. Some studies have aimed at determining the association of elevated RDW with adverse prognosis in COVID-19, but its usefulness has not been well established. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of the RDW, measured at hospital admission and discharge, for predicting death in patients with COVID-19. Materials andMethods: An observational, retrospective, longitudinal, and analytical study was conducted in two different COVID-19 reference centers in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. A total of 323 patients hospitalized by COVID-19 were included. Results: We found higher RDW levels at the time of hospital admission in the non-survivors group compared to levels in survivors (median = 13.6 vs. 13.0, p < 0.001). Final RDW levels were even higher in the deceased group when compared with those of survivors (median = 14.6 [IQR, 12.67−15.6] vs. 12.9 [IQR, 12.2−13.5], p < 0.001). For patients who died, an RDW > 14.5% was more common at the time of death than for patients who survived at the time of discharge (81 vs. 13 patients, p < 0.001; RR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.89−2.81). Conclusions: The RDW is an accessible and economical parameter that, together with other characteristics of the presentation and evolution of patients with COVID-19, can be helpful in determining the prognosis. An RDW that increases during hospitalization could be a more important mortality predictor than the RDW at hospital admission.

Interplay between climate, pollution and COVID-19 on ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a large metropolitan region.

BACKGROUND: Collective risk factors such as climate and pollution impact on the risk of acute cardiovascular events, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). There is limited data however on the precise temporal and independent association between these factors and STEMI, and the potentially interacting role of government policies against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially for Latin America. METHODS: We retrospectively collected aggregate data on daily STEMI admissions at 10 tertiary care centers in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, Argentina, from January 1, 2017 to November 30, 2020. Daily measurements for temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind direction, wind speed, and rainfall, as well as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter <10 µm (PM10), were retrieved. Exploratory analyses focused on key COVID-19-related periods (e.g. first case, first lockdown), and Stringency Index quantifying the intensity of government policy response against COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 1498 STEMI occurred over 1430 days, for an average of 0.12 STEMI per center (decreasing from 0.130 in 2018 to 0.102 in 2020, P=0.016). Time series analysis showed that lower temperature and higher concentration of CO and PM10 were all significantly associated with an increased rate of STEMI (all P<0.05), whereas COVID-19 outbreak, lockdown, and stringency of government policies were all inversely associated with STEMI (all P<0.05). Notably, environmental features impacted as early as 28 days before the event (all P<0.05), even if same or prior day associations proved stronger (all P<0.05). Multivariable analysis suggested that maximum temperature (P=0.001) and PM10 (P=0.033) were the strongest predictor of STEMI, even after accounting for COVID-19-related countermeasures (P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Lower temperature and higher concentrations of CO and PM10 are associated with significant increases in the rate of STEMI in a large Latin American metropolitan area. The reduction in STEMI cases seen during the COVID-19 pandemic is at least in part mediated by improvements in pollution, especially reductions in PM10.

Cocoa Coproducts-Based and Walnut Oil Gelled Emulsion as Animal Fat Replacer and Healthy Bioactive Source in Beef Burgers.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects on the chemical, physic-chemical, technological, and sensory properties of beef burger when replacing different quantities of fat (50 and 100%) with different levels of oil-in-water-gelled emulsion elaborated with walnut oil and cocoa bean shell flour (GECW). The chemical composition of the samples was affected by the fat replacement. The reformulation increased the moisture and ash content while the fat and protein content decreased with respect to the control sample. The linolenic and linolenic acid content of the beef burgers increased as the GECW replacement was augmented. The polyunsaturated fatty/saturated fatty acid ratio increased in both raw and cooked burgers, whereas the atherogenicity index and thrombogenicity index were reduced in both raw and cooked burgers with respect to the control sample. The use of GECW as a fat replacer was found to be effective in improving the cooking loss. Similarly, there were positive effects on reductions in the diameter and the increases in the thickness of the beef burgers. Regarding lipid stability, in both the raw and cooked burgers, the reformulation increased the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARs) values with respect to the control sample. In both types of reformulated burgers, three bound polyphenols (mainly catechin and epicatechin) and two free polyphenols were identified, as were methylxanthines theobromine and caffeine. The sensory properties for the control and partial pork backfat replacement treatments were similar, while the sample with the total pork backfat replacement treatment showed the lowest scores. The blend of cocoa bean shell flour and walnut oil could be used as new ingredients for the development of beef burgers with a healthier nutritional profile without demeriting their sensory or cooking characteristics and physic-chemical properties.

A Methodology Based on FT-IR Data Combined with Random Forest Model to Generate Spectralprints for the Characterization of High-Quality Vinegars.

Sherry wine vinegar is a Spanish gourmet product under Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Before a vinegar can be labeled as Sherry vinegar, the product must meet certain requirements as established by its PDO, which, in this case, means that it has been produced following the traditional solera and criadera ageing system. The quality of the vinegar is determined by many factors such as the raw material, the acetification process or the aging system. For this reason, mainly producers, but also consumers, would benefit from the employment of effective analytical tools that allow precisely determining the origin and quality of vinegar. In the present study, a total of 48 Sherry vinegar samples manufactured from three different starting wines (Palomino Fino, Moscatel, and Pedro Ximénez wine) were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The spectroscopic data were combined with unsupervised exploratory techniques such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), as well as other nonparametric supervised techniques, namely, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF), for the characterization of the samples. The HCA and PCA results present a clear grouping trend of the vinegar samples according to their raw materials. SVM in combination with leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) successfully classified 100% of the samples, according to the type of wine used for their production. The RF method allowed selecting the most important variables to develop the characteristic fingerprint ("spectralprint") of the vinegar samples according to their starting wine. Furthermore, the RF model reached 100% accuracy for both LOOCV and out-of-bag (OOB) sets.