RESUMO
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is largely used in Mediterranean diet, and it is also worldwide apprised not only for its organoleptic properties but also for its healthy effects mainly attributed to the presence of several naturally occurring phenolic and polyphenolic compounds (bio-phenols). These compounds are characterized by the presence of multiple phenolic groups in more or less complex structures. Their content is fundamental in defining the healthy qualities of EVOO and consequently the analytical methods for their characterization and quantification are of current interest. Traditionally their determination has been conducted using a colorimetric assay based on the reaction of Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) reagent with the functional hydroxy groups of phenolic compounds. Identification and quantification of the bio-phenols in olive oils requires certainly more performing analytical methods. Chromatographic separation is now commonly achieved by HPLC, coupled with spectrometric devices as UV, FID, and MS. This last approach constitutes an actual cutting-edge application for bio-phenol determination in complex matrices as olive oils, mostly on the light of the development of mass analyzers and the achievement of high resolution and accurate mass measurement in more affordable instrument configurations. After a short survey of some rugged techniques used for bio-phenols determination, in this review have been described the most recent mass spectrometry-based methods, adopted for the analysis of the bio-phenols in EVOOs. In particular, the sample handling and the results of HPLC coupled with low- and high-resolution MS and MS/MS analyzers, of ion mobility mass spectrometry and ambient mass spectrometry have been reported and discussed.
Assuntos
Fenóis , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem , Fenóis/análise , Fenóis/química , Azeite de Oliva/análise , Azeite de Oliva/química , Fenol/análise , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão/métodosRESUMO
Acute autoimmune encephalitis is a severe neurological disorder presenting with altered level of consciousness, confusion, irritability, headache, vomiting, and in some cases seizures. An infective event precedes by 1-2 weeks the onset of the symptoms. Cognitive impairment is considered the cardinal symptom. The autoimmune encephalitis comprises an increasingly group of inflammatory brain disorder caused by an underlying abnormal immune response to the CNS to the infective agent. In children, several antibodies have been recorded as causative agent. Among these, GAD65, MOG, and NMDAR antibodies are more commonly reported and with less frequency, the Dopamine-2 receptor, GABA A receptor, GABA B receptor, and Glycinereceptorandm-GluR5. We report here a 10-year-old male with acute autoimmune encephalitis with altered status of consciousness and severe cerebral involvement at the brain-MRI. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid disclosed the presence of anti-AMPA-GluR3 antibodies suggesting a possible pathogenetic correlation with the disorder presented by the proband. Precocious treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin resulted in progressive but constant improvement. At 3-month follow-up, the clinical condition of the child and the neuro-radiological brain anomalies returned to the normal. At the 2-year follow-up, no recurrence or other disturbances were reported.
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Encefalite Antirreceptor de N-Metil-D-Aspartato , Encefalite , Doença de Hashimoto , Encefalite Antirreceptor de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/diagnóstico , Autoanticorpos , Criança , Encefalite/complicações , Encefalite/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Hashimoto/complicações , Doença de Hashimoto/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Convulsões/etiologiaRESUMO
Inulin is considered a dietary fiber and represents a noteworthy ingredient for food biofortification due to its health effects and its neutral taste. The aim of the work was the evaluation of the quality of pasta produced using whole-meal flours of two ancient Sicilian landraces (Senatore Cappelli-CAP and Timilia-TIM) fortified with two types of inulin (long-chain topinambur inulin IT and low-chain chicory inulin IC), at two different levels of substitution (2 and 4%) to evaluate its possible effect on α-amylase inhibition. The color indices L* and a* were mainly influenced by cultivars, while IT improved the sensory attributes, mainly the elasticity sensation, and influenced less the other sensory attributes: adhesiveness, color, odor, taste, and Over Quality Score for both landraces. The cooking quality was linked mainly to the landrace used, due to the very different gluten matrix of CAP and TIM. IC and IT showed promising α-Amy inhibitory activity with comparable IC50 values of 0.45 ± 0.04 and 0.50 ± 0.06 mg/mL. The enrichment of spaghetti with inulin with an inhibitory effect on α-amylase determined the hypoglycemic properties of pasta, thus lowering the corresponding IC50 value.
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Inulina , alfa-Amilases , Culinária , Farinha/análise , Inulina/farmacologia , Polimerização , TriticumRESUMO
The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a combination of foods mainly rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients that have been shown to have many health-enhancing effects. Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is an important component of the MD. The importance of EVOO can be attributed to phenolic compounds, represented by phenolic alcohols, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol, and to secoiridoids, which include oleocanthal, oleacein, oleuropein, and ligstroside (along with the aglycone and glycosidic derivatives of the latter two). Each secoiridoid has been studied and characterized, and their effects on human health have been documented by several studies. Secoiridoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative properties and, therefore, exhibit anti-cancer activity. This review summarizes the most recent findings regarding the pharmacological properties, molecular targets, and action mechanisms of secoiridoids, focusing attention on their preventive and anti-cancer activities. It provides a critical analysis of preclinical, in vitro and in vivo, studies of these natural bioactive compounds used as agents against various human cancers. The prospects for their possible use in human cancer prevention and treatment is also discussed.
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Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Iridoides/farmacologia , Neoplasias/prevenção & controle , Azeite de Oliva/análise , Aldeídos/química , Aldeídos/farmacologia , Aldeídos/uso terapêutico , Animais , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Monoterpenos Ciclopentânicos/química , Monoterpenos Ciclopentânicos/farmacologia , Monoterpenos Ciclopentânicos/uso terapêutico , Dieta Mediterrânea , Glucosídeos/química , Glucosídeos/farmacologia , Glucosídeos/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Glucosídeos Iridoides , Iridoides/química , Iridoides/isolamento & purificação , Iridoides/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias/dietoterapia , Azeite de Oliva/farmacologia , Fenóis/química , Fenóis/farmacologia , Fenóis/uso terapêutico , Álcool Feniletílico/análogos & derivados , Álcool Feniletílico/química , Álcool Feniletílico/farmacologia , Álcool Feniletílico/uso terapêutico , Piranos/química , Piranos/farmacologia , Piranos/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Waste valorization represents one of the main social challenges when promoting a circular economy and environmental sustainability. Here, we evaluated the effect of the polyphenols extracted from apple peels, normally disposed of as waste, on the amyloid aggregation process of κ-casein from bovine milk, a well-used amyloidogenic model system. The effect of the apple peel extract on protein aggregation was examined using a thioflavin T fluorescence assay, Congo red binding assay, circular dichroism, light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. We found that the phenolic extract from the peel of apples of the cultivar "Fuji", cultivated in Sicily (Caltavuturo, Italy), inhibited κ-casein fibril formation in a dose-dependent way. In particular, we found that the extract significantly reduced the protein aggregation rate and inhibited the secondary structure reorganization that accompanies κ-casein amyloid formation. Protein-aggregated species resulting from the incubation of κ-casein in the presence of polyphenols under amyloid aggregation conditions were reduced in number and different in morphology.
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Amiloide/química , Caseínas/química , Malus/química , Microscopia de Força AtômicaRESUMO
Studying the sensory profile and chemical composition of monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) is important to define and manage their quality and uniqueness. Chemical and sensory traits of olive oils from 14 minor Sicilian olive genotypes in comparison with oils from six major Sicilian and three international cultivars were analysed. Oils were extracted in 2015 from fruit of the 23 genotypes grown in an experimental orchard at a planting density of 1140 trees ha-1. Fatty acid composition, phenol composition, carotenoid content and antioxidant power were determined and analysed using univariate and multivariate procedures, in particular Nocellara Etnea along with carotenoid, phenol content and good sensory attributes, producing the best quality EVOO among the genotypes in trial. These results show that some Sicilian accessions used in this study may represent valid alternatives to produce high-quality EVOOs in modern, hedgerow planting systems.
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Genótipo , Olea/química , Olea/genética , Azeite de Oliva/química , Óleos de Plantas/química , Antioxidantes/análise , Carotenoides/análise , Clorofila/análise , Ácidos Graxos/análise , Frutas/química , Frutas/genética , Fenóis/análise , PaladarRESUMO
Two mononuclear Pd(II) complexes [PdCl2(pfptp)] (1) and [PdCl2(pfhtp)] (2), with ligands 2-(3-perfluoropropyl-1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5yl)-pyridine (pfptp) and 2-(3-perfluoroheptyl-1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5yl)-pyridine (pfhtp), were synthesized and structurally characterized. The two complexes showed a bidentate coordination of the ligand occurring through N atom of pyridine ring and N4 atom of 1,2,4-triazole. Both complexes showed antimicrobial activity when tested against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains.
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Anti-Infecciosos/síntese química , Anti-Infecciosos/farmacologia , Fluorocarbonos/síntese química , Fluorocarbonos/farmacologia , Compostos Heterocíclicos/síntese química , Paládio/química , Anti-Infecciosos/química , Bactérias/efeitos dos fármacos , DNA/genética , Fluorocarbonos/química , Compostos Heterocíclicos/química , Compostos Heterocíclicos/farmacologia , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Plasmídeos/genética , Espectroscopia de Prótons por Ressonância Magnética , Espectrofotometria InfravermelhoRESUMO
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of thymol in controlling environmental contamination in food processing facilities. The effect of thymol was tested as an agent to prevent planktonic and bacterial biofilm growth of twenty-five Listeria monocytogenes isolates from a variety of foods and five Escherichia coli isolates from a farm. The E. coli isolates were positive for extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) genes. All isolates and reference strains were susceptible to thymol at Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 250 to 800 µg/mL. An interesting activity of interference with biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes and E. coli was found for thymol at sub-MIC concentrations of 200, 100, 75, and 50 µg/mL. Anti-biofilm activity ranging from 59.71% to 66.90% against pre-formed 24-h-old L. monocytogenes biofilms at concentrations of 500 or 800 µg/mL, corresponding to 2× MIC, was determined against free-living forms of six isolates chosen as the best or moderate biofilm producers among the tested strains. The property of thymol to attack L. monocytogenes biofilm formation was also observed at a concentration of 100 µg/mL, corresponding to 1/4 MIC, by using a stainless-steel model to simulate the surfaces in food industries. This study gives information on the use of thymol in food processing setting.
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Escherichia coli/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Contaminação de Alimentos/prevenção & controle , Listeria monocytogenes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Timol/farmacologia , Animais , Animais Domésticos , Biofilmes/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Contaminação de Equipamentos , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Manipulação de Alimentos/instrumentação , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Listeria monocytogenes/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Propriedades de Superfície , Suínos , Resistência beta-LactâmicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pomegranate fruits are a rich source of polyphenols with numerous health-promoting effects. Pomegranate juices of five genotypes ('Mollar', 'Kingdom', 'Dente di Cavallo', and two old populations 'Francofonte' and 'Santa Tecla') were evaluated regarding anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolic contents using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS). Moreover, total antioxidant activity (TAA) was evaluated using a 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assay. RESULTS: Twenty-three phenolic compounds were identified. Cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside and pelargonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside were the most representative anthocyanins in all genotypes; the Santa Tecla population had the highest content of these anthocyanins, 97.64 mg L-1 and 40.29 mg L-1 respectively. In the Francofonte population, ferulic acid hexoside was the most abundant compound (391.18 mg L-1 ). TAA values ranged between 221.5 and 36.73 µmol Trolox equivalents/100 mL of juice. A high TAA value was recorded for the Santa Tecla pomegranate population. CONCLUSION: The UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS approach was employed for the first time to identify the phenolic compound profiling in five pomegranate genotypes. TAA was analysed using an ABTS assay, and the results showed a significant variability in nutraceutical potential of the pomegranate genotypes studied. The inclusion of phenolic information in the linear discriminant analysis allowed very good discriminations among genotypes to be obtained. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/análise , Frutas/química , Lythraceae/química , Antocianinas/análise , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão/métodos , Sucos de Frutas e Vegetais/análise , Genótipo , Itália , Lythraceae/genética , Fenóis , Espectrometria de Massas em TandemRESUMO
Mono- and binuclear Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) (DTBTA) ligand are reported. [Pt(DTBTA)(DMSO)Cl]ClâCHCl3 (1) and [Pd2(µ-Cl)2(DTBTA)2]Cl2 (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, MS spectrometry and the content of platinum and palladium was determined using a flame atomic spectrometer. Two different coordination modes of 1 and 2 complexes were found; in both complexes, the coordination of Pt(II) and Pd(II) ions involves the N(3) atoms of the ligand but the binuclear complex 2, is a cis-chloro-bridged palladium complex. Evaluation of their in vitro antitumor activity against two human tumor cell lines human breast cancer (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2); and their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Kokuria rhizophila was performed. Only complex 1 showed a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic activity against the two tumor cell lines, associated to apoptosis and accumulation of treated cells in G0/G1 phase of cell cycle, while both 1 and 2 exhibited antimicrobial activity with complex 1 much more potent. The study on intracellular uptake in both MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines revealed that only platinum of complex 1 is present inside the cells, suggesting a different mode of action of the two compounds. This was also in agreement with the results obtained for the antitumor and antibacterial activity.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Benzotiazóis/farmacologia , Paládio/química , Paládio/farmacologia , Compostos de Platina/química , Compostos de Platina/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/síntese química , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Ligantes , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Compostos de Platina/síntese química , Análise EspectralRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Effects of continuous deficit irrigation (DI) and partial rootzone drying (PRD) treatments (50% ETc) in comparison with full irrigation (CI, 100% ETc) were investigated during 'Valencia' orange fruit maturation. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to quantify hesperidin, narirutin, tangeritin, nobiletin, didymin and neoeriocitrin in the fruit juice and peel. RESULTS: No significant effect of irrigation was found on yield, juice soluble solids or acidity. Juice color was not influenced by irrigation or harvest date, whereas peel color increased during maturation and was more pronounced in CI and PRD fruits. Juice acidity reached a peak in May, while soluble solids increased linearly throughout maturation. Hesperidin was the major flavanone detected during maturation, with concentrations 200-fold higher in the fruit peel than in the juice. In the peel, narirutin, didymin and neoeriocitrin decreased while hesperidin, nobiletin and tangeritin increased with maturation. Narirutin synthesis in the orange fruit was insensitive to irrigation strategy. In fruit peels, PRD and DI induced the decline of hesperidin, nobiletin and tangeritin only in June, whereas in the juice, deficit irrigation treatments induced an increase in hesperidin and didymin. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that deficit irrigation, in particular the conditions imposed with PRD, may cause a significant accumulation shift of total flavonoids from the fruit peel into the juice, with a positive impact on juice quality and nutritional value. Fruit compositional changes during maturation also suggest that late harvest can improve fruit palatability and nutritional quality under the cultural and environmental conditions of this study. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Assuntos
Irrigação Agrícola/métodos , Citrus sinensis/química , Flavonoides/química , Frutas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Água/metabolismo , Irrigação Agrícola/instrumentação , Citrus sinensis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Citrus sinensis/metabolismo , Cor , Flavonoides/metabolismo , Aromatizantes/química , Aromatizantes/metabolismo , Frutas/química , Frutas/metabolismo , Controle de Qualidade , Água/análiseRESUMO
RATIONALE: Self-assembling processes of surfactants in the gas phase constitute a developing research field of interest since they allow information to be gained on the peculiar structural organization of these aggregates, on their ability to incorporate from small molecules up to proteins and on their possible use as carriers of drugs in the gas phase or as cleaning agents and exotic reaction media. METHODS: The mass spectra of charged aggregates of the chiral surfactant (1R,2S)-dodecyl(2-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-phenylethyl)dimethylammonium bromide (DMEB) in the gas phase have been recorded using a Synapt G2-Si mass spectrometer in the positive and negative ion mode. For comparison purposes, the mass spectra of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and sodium octane sulfonate aggregates have also been recorded under the same experimental conditions. The collisional cross sections of positively and negatively charged DMEB aggregates were obtained through an appropriate calibration of the measured drift times. RESULTS: For all the surfactants investigated, it has been found that there is a lowest and a highest limit of the aggregation number at each charge state: no aggregates are found outside this range. Moreover, the occurrence at each aggregation number and extra charge of a unique value of drift time points toward aggregates whose conformations do not show discernible shape change in the experiment time scale. The analysis of the collisional cross sections emphasizes that the DMEB aggregates are nearly spherical clusters somewhat affected by the charge state and constituted by interlaced polar and apolar domains. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of all the experimental findings indicates that in the gas phase DMEB forms supramolecular aggregates characterized by an internal organization whose stability is triggered by the charge state. The comparison of the behavior of DMEB aggregates with that of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and sodium octane sulfonate aggregates allows us to highlight the effects on the aggregate organization in gas phase due to nature of the head group and alkyl chain steric hindrance.
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Vegetables, cereals and fruit are foods rich in fibre with beneficial and nutritional effects as their consumption reduces the onset of degenerative diseases, especially cardiovascular ones. Among fibres, inulin, oligofructose or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) are the best-studied. Inulin is a generic term to cover all linear ß(2-1) fructans, with a variable degree of polymerization. In this review a better understanding of the importance of the degree of polymerization of inulin as a dietary fibre, functions, health benefits, classifications, types and its applications in the food industry was considered in different fortified foods. Inulin has been used to increase the nutritional and healthy properties of the product as a sweetener and as a substitute for fats and carbohydrates, improving the nutritional value and decreasing the glycemic index, with the advantage of not compromising taste and consistency of the product. Bifidogenic and prebiotic effects of inulin have been well established, inulin-type fructans are fermented by the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids, with important local and systemic actions. Addition of inulin with different degrees of polymerization to daily foods for the production of fortified pasta and bread was reviewed, and the impact on sensorial, technological and organoleptic characteristics even of gluten-free bread was also reported.
Assuntos
Grão Comestível , Inulina , Inulina/farmacologia , Polimerização , Frutanos/farmacologia , Fibras na Dieta/farmacologiaRESUMO
Quality control of protein supplements intended for a large audience of consumers such as sportspeople is particularly important. A case study on quality control of dietary supplements containing protein and protein components is presented. The objective of the study was to evaluate the conformity of the quantities of amino acids, essential and branched-chain amino acids, declared on the label through measurements with chromatographic analytical tools. 16 sportspeople supplements from different European countries were tested. Analysis of concentrated whey protein highlighted some differences between the label and what was experimentally determined; in these samples some amino acids (6 amino acids out of 19) exceeded the maximum tolerance (>20%) regulated by the European Commission. To a lesser extent, analysis of the other classes revealed amino acid concentrations that exceeded the maximum analytical tolerance percentage. As regards the essential and branched amino acid supplements, it was seen that the declared quantity conforms with that determined experimentally.
Assuntos
Aminoácidos , Suplementos Nutricionais , Proteínas do Soro do Leite , Europa (Continente) , Controle de Qualidade , Proteínas AlimentaresRESUMO
In response to the global challenge of food wastage and high perishability of blackberries, this study evaluated the use of ultrasound-assisted hot air drying (US-HAD) to convert downgraded blackberries into powders, comparing it with traditional hot air drying (HAD). US-HAD reduced the drying time and achieved a final moisture content of 12%. Physicochemical analyses (colourimetry, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content) were conducted on fresh fruit, powders, and fortified cookies. US-HAD cookies exhibited promising antioxidant activity, with ABTS values ranging from 8.049 to 8.536 mmol TEAC/100 g and DPPH values from 8.792 to 9.232 mmol TEAC/100 g, significantly higher than control cookies. The TPC was 13.033 mgGAE/g in HAD cookies and 13.882 mgGAE/g in US-HAD cookies. UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed an increase in phenolic compounds content in fortified cookies compared to the control. Sensory analysis highlighted a superior blackberry flavour and overall acceptability in US-HAD cookies, with statistical analysis confirming their superior nutritional and sensory qualities. Integrating US-HAD blackberry powder into cookies helps reduce food waste and enhances the nutritional profiles of baked goods, offering functional foods with health benefits. This work provides a scientific basis for developing enriched functional cookies, offering a healthy and sustainable alternative for utilising damaged fruits.
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In the current study, the prebiotic potential of an innovative functional pasta enriched with 12% (w/w) inulin was investigated. To this aim, pasta was subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion followed by simulated gut fermentation compared to the control pasta (CTRL) not containing inulin. The incorporation of inulin positively (p < 0.05) affected some organoleptic traits and the cooking quality of the final product, giving an overall score significantly higher than CTRL. The resultant essential amino acid content was similar in both pasta samples while the total protein content was lower in inulin-enriched pasta for the polymer substitution to durum wheat flour. The prebiotic potential of chicory inulin was preliminarily tested in in vitro experiments using seven probiotic strains and among them Lacticaseibacillus paracasei IMPC2.1 was selected for the simulated gut fermentation studies. The positive prebiotic activity score registered with the probiotic strain suggested the suitability of the inulin-enriched pasta with respect to acting as a prebiotic source favoring the growth of the probiotic strain and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. The present study contributes to broadening knowledge on the prebiotic efficacy of inulin when incorporated into a complex food matrix.
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BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming increasingly crucial in the Pediatric Emergency Department for objective patient examination. However, despite its growing interest and wide-ranging applications, POCUS remains relatively unexplored in general pediatric training and education. Many physicians still find it challenging to comprehend and implement. METHODS: A theoretical-practical POCUS course for pediatric residents was conducted at the University of Catania, Italy. The course's effectiveness and practical impact on residents was assessed through a pre-post training survey. The first part of the questionnaire focused on the self-perceived time needed to learn how to recognize the following conditions using POCUS: (i) Pleural effusion (ii) Lung consolidation (iii) Pneumothorax (PNX) (iv) Cardiac contractility (v) Pericardial effusion (vi) Perisplenic effusion (vii) Morison's pouch effusion (viii) Douglas' pouch effusion (ix) Filling and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava. In the second part, we compared the potential role of POCUS in (i) Reducing the use of ionizing radiation in children (ii) Increasing the sense of security in diagnosis and treatment decisions making and (iii) Increasing the residents' confidence level with POCUS after the course on a 1-to-10 rating scale. RESULTS: Seventy-two residents participated in the study. The statistical analysis showed significant pre-post differences in almost all the items considered, except for "cardiac contractility" and "PNX". Furthermore, the perceived potential role of POCUS in reducing ionizing radiation usage and the sense of security in diagnosis and treatment decisions showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) before and after the course. Data analysis also revealed a consistently high confidence level with POCUS after the course. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of including a POCUS track course in pediatric post-graduate programs due to its simplicity, rapid learning time, and clinical usefulness. Based on these findings, it would be recommended to increase the teaching hours dedicated to the recognition of pneumothorax and cardiology POCUS examination. Emphasizing POCUS training in pediatric education can enhance patient care and diagnostic accuracy while minimizing radiation exposure.
Assuntos
Competência Clínica , Internato e Residência , Pediatria , Sistemas Automatizados de Assistência Junto ao Leito , Ultrassonografia , Humanos , Estudos Transversais , Pediatria/educação , Itália , Inquéritos e Questionários , Masculino , Feminino , CurrículoRESUMO
The rheological and chemical quality of pasta samples, which were obtained using the durum wheat semolina fortified with the hemp seed solid residue, after oil extraction, sieved at 530 µm (Hemp 1) or 236 µm (Hemp 2) at different percentages of substitution (5%, 7.5%, and 10%, were evaluated. The total polyphenolic content in hemp flour was quantified in the range of 6.38-6.35 mg GAE/g, and free radical scavenging was included in the range from 3.94-3.75 mmol TEAC/100 g in Hemp 1 and Hemp 2, respectively. The phenolic profiles determined by UHPLC-ESI/QTOF-MS showed that cannabisin C, hydroxycinnamic and protocatechuic acids were the most abundant phenolic compounds in both hemp flours. Among the amino acids, isoleucine, glutamine, tyrosine, proline, and lysine were the most abundant in raw materials and pasta samples. Although the hemp seeds were previously subjected to oil extraction, hemp flours retain about 8% of oil, and the fatty acids present in the largest amount were linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. Characterization of the minerals showed that the concentration of macro and trace elements increased according to fortification percentage. Sensory evaluation and cooking quality indicated that the best performance in terms of process production and consumer acceptance was obtained using Hemp 2 at 7.5%. Hemp supplementation could be a potential option for producing high-quality, nutritionally rich, low-cost pasta with good color and functionality.
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In recent years, a main goal of research has been to exploit waste from agribusiness industries as new sources of bioactive components, with a view to establishing a circular economy. Non-compliant avocado fruits, as well as avocado seeds and peels, are examples of promising raw materials due to their high nutritional yield and antioxidant profiles. This study aimed to recycle avocado food waste and by-products through dehydration to produce functional bread. For this purpose, dehydrated avocado was reduced to powder form, and bread was prepared with different percentages of the powder (5% and 10%) and compared with a control bread prepared with only semolina. The avocado pulp and by-products did not alter organoleptically after dehydration, and the milling did not affect the products' color and retained the avocado aroma. The firmness of the breads enriched with avocado powder increased due to the additional fat from the avocado, and alveolation decreased. The total phenolic content of the fortified breads was in the range of 2.408-2.656 mg GAE/g, and the antiradical activity was in the range of 35.75-38.235 mmol TEAC/100 g (p < 0.0001), depending on the percentage of fortification.
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Griffonia simplicifolia, a tropical plant endemic to West Africa, is highly regarded for its significant pharmacological potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolomic profile and to explore the antioxidant properties, antiproliferative activity, and antimicrobial potential of G. simplicifolia seed extracts obtained through either maceration, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), or Soxhlet extraction using water, acetone, methanol and ethanol as solvents. Overall, methanol possessed superior total extraction efficiency. HPLC analyses confirmed the efficacy of acetone and ethanol as optimal solvents for the extraction of flavonoids and flavan-3-ols, whereas MAE exhibited enhanced effectiveness in extracting N-containing compounds, including 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). HPLC-MS analyses identified forty-three compounds, including thirty-four phenolic compounds and nine N-containing molecules. Isomyricitrin, taxifolin and a flavonol glucuronide were the main polyphenols, whereas 5-HTP was the main N-containing compound. Hydroalcoholic G. simplicifolia extracts showed the highest radical scavenging and metal-reducing antioxidant power, suggesting that most of the contribution to antioxidant activity depends on the more polar bioactive compounds. G. simplicifolia extracts showed dose-dependent antiproliferative activity against three distinct cancer cell lines (HeLa, HepG2, and MCF-7), with notable variations observed among both the different extracts and cell lines and divergent GI50 values, emphasizing substantial discrepancies in cell sensitivity to the various extracts. Furthermore, G. simplicifolia extracts revealed antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Our results highlight the potential of G. simplicifolia phytochemicals in the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements.