•Edible coatings with fungal chitosan nanoparticles were prepared.•Coated grapes showed improved physicochemical and microbiological qualities.•The edible coatings did not affect the sensory ...attributes of the table grapes.•Fungal chitosan nanoparticles can be a sustainable alternative for grape preservation.
Chitosan edible coatings are a potential alternative for extending the postharvest life of fruit. The properties of chitosan can be enhanced when it is used in the form of nanoparticles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity and the effect of gel + fungal chitosan nanoparticles on some physicochemical properties (total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, reducing sugar content and moisture content) and sensory characteristics of grapes stored at 12 °C and 25 °C. The chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation and then underwent a heat treatment (50 °C/1200 × g/30 min). Characterization of the particles was carried out by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The microdilution test was used to determine the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) of chitosan nanoparticles against food-borne pathogenic bacteria. To obtain the coatings to be tested, chitosan was solubilized in 1% acetic acid (20 g/L−1) and nanoparticles were subsequently added (MIC/2, MIC and 2MIC). The produced nanoparticles were spherical, had a medium size of 128.3 nm and showed an inhibitory effect against pathogenic foodborne bacteria with MIC values ranging from 2 to 3 g/L−1. The edible chitosan nanoparticle coatings were responsible for delaying the ripening process of the grapes resulting in decreased weight loss, soluble solids and reducing sugar contents as well as increased moisture retention and preservation of the titratable acidity values and sensory characteristics. Therefore, the use of edible coatings containing chitosan nanoparticles at different concentrations (MIC/2, MIC, 2MIC) can be a promising strategy to improve the post-harvest quality of grapes.
Abstract Objective To investigate the clinicopathological significance and prognosis of the expression of the anterior gradient 3 (AGR3) protein in women with breast cancer. Data Sources The PubMed, ...CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies published in English and without restrictions regarding the year of publication. The search terms were: breast cancer AND anterior gradient 3 OR AGR3 expression. Study Selection We included observational or interventional studies, studies on AGR3 protein expression by immunohistochemistry, and studies on invasive breast cancer. Case reports, studies with animals, and reviews were excluded. In total, 4 studies were included, containing 713 cases of breast cancer. Data Collection Data were extracted on clinicopathological characteristics and survival. A meta-analysis of the prevalence of AGR3 expression was performed according to the clinicopathological characteristics, hazard ratios (HRs), and overall survival and disease-free survival. Data Synthesis The expression of AGR3 was found in 62% of the cases, and it was associated with histological grade II, positivity of estrogen and progesterone receptors, low expression of ki67, recurrence or distant metastasis, and lumen subtypes. In patients with low and intermediate histological grades, AGR3 expression was associated with worse overall survival (HR: 2.39; 95% confidence interval 95%CI: 0.628–4.159; p = 0.008) and worse disease-free survival (HR: 3.856; 95%CI: 1.026–6.686; p = 0.008). Conclusion The AGR3 protein may be a biomarker for the early detection of breast cancer and predict prognosis in luminal subtypes. In addition, in patients with low and intermediate histological grades, AGR3 protein expression may indicate an unfavorable prognosis in relation to survival.
Summary
This research verified the ability of Lactobacillus rhamnosus encapsulated with inulin to tolerate the simulated digestive system and their viability in a soy blend. Probiotic encapsulated in ...alginate‐chitosan matrix without inulin presented a better encapsulation efficiency (80.92%) than encapsulation with inulin (57.39%). On the 28th day, the count of probiotics decreased by 3.42 and 1.99 logarithmic cycles of free and encapsulated cells without inulin, respectively. In contrast, the microorganisms encapsulated with inulin showed an increase of 1.26 logs CFU g−1. During gastrointestinal simulation, cell counts decreased by 0.78, 1.55 and 1.95 CFU g−1 logs for encapsulated cells without inulin, free and encapsulated with inulin, respectively. Sensory panellists liked the fermented soy blend with encapsulated lactobacilli, and this result shows the possibility to create new probiotic foods of plant origin. Therefore, the alginate/chitosan matrix can be considered adequate for the encapsulation of L. rhamnosus. The inulin reduces the encapsulation efficiency and increases the cell loss in gastrointestinal simulation. Considering cellular losses, the best option for preparing a fermented soy blend is to use L. rhamnosus encapsulated without inulin.
Co‐encapsulation process of Lactobacillus rhamnosus with inulin on alginate/chitosan matrix, the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation and their viability in a soy fermented blend.
The Solanum glaucophyllum Desf. has been used to treat and prevent diseases in human and veterinary medicine. On the other hand, plant poisoning causes several bone diseases, among them osteoporosis, ...which is characterized by osteoblastic hypoplasia. Because the osteoblast is a cell derived from the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow, the hypothesis is that the plant reduces the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of S. glaucophyllum Desf. extract on MSCs cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium. We determined by liquid chromatography that 1 ml of plant extract contained 3.8 μl of 1,25(OH)2D3 (calcitriol). Four groups of MSCs cultivated in osteogenic medium were evaluated as follows: (a) treated with 100 μl of extract/L containing 0.4 μg/L of calcitriol; (b) treated with 1 ml of extract/L containing 4 μg/L of calcitriol; (c) treated with 5 ml of extract/L containing 20 μg/L of calcitriol; and (d) a control group without extract. We performed alkaline phosphatase activity assay, analysis of MTT conversion to formazan, and evaluated the percentage of cells, and number and diameter of mineralization nodules. The expression of gene transcripts for osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and BMP‐2 was analysed by RT‐qPCR. After 21 days, there was a significant reduction in MTT conversion to formazan in treated groups, of the cellularity in the group with 5 ml of extract/L, and in the number and size of mineralization nodules in the groups treated with 1 and 5 ml of extract/L. The 5 ml extract/L concentration also reduced transcript expression of osteopontin. It is concluded that S. glaucophyllum Desf. at concentrations of 1 and 5 ml extract/L reduced mineralized matrix synthesis in MSCs cultivated in osteogenic differentiation medium, which suggests that this is one of the mechanisms by which osteoporosis occurs in intoxicated animals.
Aim
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of clinical trials covering interventions used as prophylaxis for oral mucositis induced by ambulatory antineoplastic chemotherapy.
...Background
Oral mucositis in patients undergoing chemotherapy is a side effect that can impact the quality of treatment and can interfere with eating and therapeutic adherence.
Design
Quantitative systematic review.
Data sources
Relevant databases were searched, from January 2002–July 2013, by using the combination of the keywords mucositis, stomatitis, neoplasms, antineoplastic agents, drug therapy, prevention and control and chemotherapy.
Review methods
Two researchers independently read the titles and s from every cross‐reference. The quality of the included studies was analysed by the Jadad Scale and the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Data were extracted from the selected studies with a data collection form developed specifically for this purpose.
Results
Of the 23 controlled clinical trials that were identified in this study, five articles evaluated the use of oral cryotherapy to prevent oral mucositis and three studies analysed the prophylactic use of glutamine. Interventions of protocols for oral care, palifermin, allopurinol and chlorhexidine were evaluated by two articles each. Interventions of zinc sulphate, amifostine, chewing gum, sucralfate, recombination human intestinal trefoil factor, kefir and vitamin E were evaluated by one article each.
Conclusion
There is strong evidence that cryotherapy can prevent oral mucositis arising from ambulatory treatment with 5‐flurouracil chemotherapy. Other interventions, although showing positive results in preventing oral mucositis, require further study to confirm their conclusions.
Solanum glaucophyllum Desf. is a calcinogenic plant responsible for enzootic calcinosis that affects ruminants and causes alterations in bone and cartilaginous tissues, among others. It is believed ...that changes in cartilage tissue, with reduced bone growth, are due to hypercalcitoninism, caused by excess vitamin D. However, we hypothesized that S. glaucophyllum Desf. can act directly on chondrocytes and therefore, chondrocyte cultures from the epiphysis of the long bones of newborn rats were used as a model to elucidate the direct effects of S. glaucophyllum Desf. on bone growth. Plant samples were collected from Cañuelas, Argentina. An aliquot of the plant extract was used to quantify vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3). The effects of the three concentrations of the plant extract were tested in cultures of chondrocytes extracted from the epiphyses of the long bones of 32 three-day-old Wistar rats. A control group (without extract), and three groups treated with different concentrations of plant extract were formed: group 1 (100 μL/L); group 2 (1 mL/L), and group 3 (5 mL/L), containing respectively 1 × 10−9 M, 1 × 10−8 M, and 5 × 10−8 M of 1,25(OH)2D3. After 7, 14, and 21 days of culture, MTT assay for cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, and quantification of the percentage of areas with glycosaminoglycans (GAG) stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) were performed. On day 7, all chondrocytes in group 3, that is, those with the highest concentration of plant extract, died. On days 14 and 21, groups 1 and 2 showed a significant reduction in chondrocyte viability compared to the control. At 7, 14, and 21 days, groups 1 and 2 showed significantly lower alkaline phosphatase activity than the control. On day 21, group 2 showed a significant reduction in areas with PAS + GAGs. There were no significant differences between the groups in the expression of gene transcripts for Sox9, Col2, ColX, and aggrecan. The S. glaucophyllum Desf. extract directly affected growing rat chondrocytes by reducing viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, and GAG synthesis without altering the expression of gene transcripts for Sox9, Col2, ColX, and aggrecan, which may be one of the mechanisms by which there is a reduction in bone growth in animals intoxicated by the plant.
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•Solanum Glaucophyllum Desf. extract significantly affects the viability of chondrocytes.•Solanum Glaucophyllum Desf. extract significantly reduces chondrocyte alkaline phosphatase activity.•Solanum Glaucophyllum Desf. extract significantly reduces the content of glycosaminoglycans in chondrocyte pellets.•Solanum Glaucophyllum Desf. extract does not alter the expression of Col 2, ColX, Agrecan, and Sox9 in chondrocytes.
Abstract
Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are two of the most prominent aetiological agents of waterborne diseases. Therefore, efficient and affordable methodologies for identifying and ...quantifying these parasites in water are increasingly necessary. USEPA Method 1623.1 is a widely used and validated protocol for detecting these parasites in water samples. It consists of a concentration step, followed by parasite purification and visualization by immunofluorescence microscopy. Although efficient, this method has a high cost particularly due to the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) step, which is most needed with complex and highly contaminated samples. Based on this, the present study aimed to determine whether it is possible to maintain the efficiency of Method 1623.1 while reducing the amount of beads per reaction, using as a matrix the challenge water recommended by the World Health Organization. As for Giardia cysts, a satisfactory recovery efficiency (RE) was obtained using 50% less IMS beads. This was evaluated both with a commercial cyst suspension (56.1% recovery) and an analytical quality assessment (47.5% recovery). Although RE rates obtained for Cryptosporidium parvum did not meet Method 1623.1 criteria in any of the experimental conditions tested, results presented in this paper indicated the relevance of the described adaptations, even in challenge water.
Resumo A educação é ferramenta que transforma as relações sociais. Assim, compreender como se dá a construção do conhecimento na intersecção que se perfaz com as discussões sobre Educação em Direitos ...Humanos e gênero faz com que tenhamos uma sociedade mais cidadã e que respeite as diferenças entre os sujeitos. Acerca disso, o objetivo geral deste estudo parte da análise da produção do conhecimento que intersecciona a Educação em Direitos Humanos e gênero nos Programas de Pós-Graduação brasileiros. Como objetivos específicos, visamos mapear as produções sobre as questões de gênero interseccionadas com a Educação em Direitos Humanos nos Programas de Pós-Graduação no Brasil; e refletir sobre a categoria gênero na produção de conhecimento na área da Educação em Direitos Humanos. Para isso, nos utilizaremos do acervo da Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações, compreendendo o lapso temporal relacionado aos períodos de 2015 a 2020, momento em que houve a ascensão do discurso conservador acerca dessas temáticas. Além disso, a pesquisa busca perceber em quais Programas e linhas de pesquisa tal intersecção se apresenta de maneira mais contundente. A metodologia utilizada parte do método dialético, com abordagem qualitativa, sendo o tipo de pesquisa de cunho bibliográfico, exploratório e descritivo, com coleta de dados documentais e análise de conteúdo.
Resumen La educación es una herramienta que transforma las relaciones sociales. Así, entender cómo se construye el conocimiento en la intersección que se hace con las discusiones sobre Educación en Derechos Humanos y género nos permite tener una sociedad más cívica y respetuosa de las diferencias entre los sujetos. Sobre esto, el objetivo general de este estudio parte del análisis de la producción de conocimiento que cruza la Educación en Derechos Humanos y el género en los Programas de Postgrado brasileños. Como objetivo específico, mapeamos las producciones sobre cuestiones de género cruzadas con la educación en derechos humanos en los programas de postgrado en Brasil y reflexionamos sobre la categoría de género en la producción de conocimiento en el área de la educación en derechos humanos. Para ello utilizaremos la colección de la Biblioteca Digital Brasileña de Tesis y Disertaciones, comprender el lapso de tiempo que comprende los años 2015 a 2020, período en el que hubo un discurso más conservador sobre estos temas. Además, la investigación busca percibir en qué Programas y líneas de investigación se presenta esta intersección de manera más contundente. La metodología utilizada parte del método dialéctico, con un enfoque cualitativo, siendo el tipo de investigación exploratoria bibliográfica y descriptiva con recogida de datos documentales, y el análisis de datos, el de contenido
Abstract Education is a tool that transforms social relations. Thus, understanding how knowledge is constructed in the intersection that is made with discussions on Human Rights Education and gender allows us to have a more civil society that respects the differences between individuals. About this, the general objective of this study comes from the analysis the production of knowledge that intersects Human Rights Education and gender in Brazilian Graduate Programs. As a specific objective we map the productions about gender issues intersected with Human Rights education in Postgraduate Programs in Brazil and reflect on the gender category in the production of knowledge in the area of Human Rights education. For this we will use the collection of the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, understanding the time lapse that comprises the years 2015 to 2020, a period where there was a more conservative discourse about these issues. Furthermore, the research seeks to understand in which Programs and lines of research this intersection is more evident. The methodology used is based on the dialectical method, with a qualitative approach, being the type of bibliographic exploratory and descriptive research with documental data collection, and data analysis, that of content.
Aims
Verify the presence of the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs1800012 of the collagen I (COL1A1) and rs1800255 of the collagen III (COL3A1) genes and their association with pelvic organ prolapse ...(POP) in Brazilian women and to determine risk factors for POP.
Methods
We assessed 826 postmenopausal women divided into POP (stages III and IV) and control groups (stages 0 and I) by examination and peripheral blood sample collection. DNA sequences of interest were analyzed by real‐time reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We used logistic regression analyses, recessive and codominance models of inheritance, and P < .05 for significance.
Results
Six‐hundred and thirty‐four postmenopausal women were included: 348 (54.8%) POP cases and 286 (45.1%) controls. The frequencies of GG, GA, and AA genotypes for COL1A1 were 69.12%, 20.24%, and 10.59% in POP group and 71.79%, 20%, and 8.21% in controls; GG, GT, and TT for COL3A1 were 37.54%, 59.53%, and 2.93% in POP group and 36.24%, 60.14%, and 3.62% in controls. There were no genotypic or allelic association with POP phenotype that link both SNPs rs1800012 and rs1800255 to increased risk of POP. Vaginal delivery (odds ratio OR = 13; 95% confidence interval CI 4.00‐47.08), POP family history (OR = 3.1; 95% CI 1.49‐6.50), diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.08‐5.21), number of pregnancies (OR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.05‐1.36), and age (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.09‐1.19), were variables of increased risk for POP (P < .05 for all).
Conclusion
Our study suggests lack of association between DNA polymorphisms rs1800012 of COL1A1 and rs1800255 of COL3A1 with advanced POP. Vaginal delivery, POP family history, diabetes mellitus, number of pregnancies, and age are risk factors for POP.
Background:
Fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (fHP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Interstitial lung disease–gender-age-physiology (ILD-GAP) performance in fHP outside ...the initial cohort was never performed.
Aim:
To assess the ILD-GAP index’s ability to predict mortality in a Portuguese cohort of patients with fHP and analyse whether other clinical variables add value.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of fHP cohort in two Portuguese ILD centres. The baseline ILD-GAP index was calculated. Survival was analysed in months; mortality was the primary outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses to identify mortality risk factors were performed.
Results:
A total of 141 patients were included. Fifty-three patients (37.6%) died during the follow-up. The usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern was found in 49.6%, and their survival was inferior to non-UIP 32 months (interquartile range, IQR = 19, 60) versus 52 months (IQR = 28, 98), p = 0.048. Patients with an ILD-GAP index higher than three double their risk of mortality hazard ratio (HR) = 6.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (3.03–13.96) when compared with the patients with an index between 2 and 3 HR = 3.04, 95% CI = (1.62–5.71) adjusting for acute exacerbation history. Even though UIP patients had worse survival, it did not reach statistical significance when UIP pattern was added to this model. Acute exacerbation history was an independent risk factor for mortality; however, ILD-GAP still predicted mortality after adjusting for this factor. PaO2 and 6-minute walk test desaturation were not significant risk factors.
Conclusion:
ILD-GAP index is a good predictor for mortality in fHP, even after adjusting for other mortality risk factors.
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