The ketogenic diet (KD), a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, and adequate-protein diet is an established, effective nonpharmacologic treatment option for intractable childhood epilepsy. The KD was ...developed in 1921 and even though it has been increasingly used worldwide in the past decade, many neurologists are not familiar with this therapeutic approach. In the past few years, alternative and more flexible KD variants have been developed to make the treatment easier and more palatable while reducing side effects and making it available to larger group of refractory epilepsy patients. This review summarizes the history of the KD and the principles and efficacy of the classic ketogenic diet, medium-chain triglyceride(s) (MCT) ketogenic diet, modified Atkins diet, and low glycemic index treatment.
Water removal is an essential step during crude oil production due to several problems such as increased transportation costs and high corrosion rate due to dissolved salts. Indirect low frequency ...ultrasonic energy (US), using baths, has been recently proposed as an effective alternative for crude oil demulsification. However, the reactor position during sonication and its influence on the demulsification efficiency for crude oil has not been evaluated. In this sense, the aim of this study was to develop an automated system based on an open source hardware for mapping the acoustic field distribution in an US bath operating at 35kHz using a hydrophone. Data acquired with this system provided information to evaluate the demulsification efficiency in the different positions of the US bath and correlate it with the acoustic intensity distribution. The automated 3D-mapping system revealed a higher acoustic intensity in the regions immediately above the transducers (ca. 0.6Wcm−2), while the other regions presented a relatively lower intensity (ca. 0.1Wcm−2). Experimental data demonstrated that reactors positioned in the most intense acoustic regions provided a much higher efficiency of demulsification in comparison with the ones positioned in the less intense acoustic field regions. Demulsification efficiency up to 93% was obtained with 15min of sonication (100% amplitude) using few amount of chemical demulsifier. Hence, this work demonstrated that the information acquired with the developed mapping system could be used for inducing a higher efficiency of demulsification only by finding the more suitable position of reactor in the US bath, which certainly will help development of appropriate reactors design when looking for such approach.
•Waste from industrialized cassava bagasse and peelings were used to produce nanofibers.•The influence of process conditions (sulfuric acid concentration and temperature) on the properties of the ...nanofibers was investigated.•Cellulose nanofibers obtained from both raw materials were characterized.•Long nanofibers with small diameter and high zeta potential were produced.
This work aimed to obtain and characterize nanofibers from cassava bagasse and peelings, which are waste originating from cassava starch extraction. To isolate the nanofibers, a combination of pre-treatments (alkaline treatment, Q-chelating treatment, bleaching), acid hydrolysis, and a final ultrasonic disintegration step were used. Acidic hydrolysis was conducted at a constant temperature of 60°C; the acid concentration (30, 40, and 50%) and the treatment time (30, 60, and 90min) were varied. The nanofibers were characterized for their morphology, surface charge, crystallinity index (XRD), and functional groups (FTIR). The diameters of the nanofibers ranged from 2.3nm to 5.4nm. The zeta potential values were lower than −47.7mV. As expected, all the products derived from acid hydrolysis displayed high crystallinity index. Finally, FTIR analysis confirmed that the isolation processes effectively removed amorphous materials such as lignin and hemicellulose from the nanofibers.
Postpartum weight retention (PPWR) is an important risk factor for long-term obesity. Appetite may be a key factor regulating PPWR. The objectives of this study were to determine the associations ...between (i) PPWR and appetite; and (ii) appetite, lactation, and metabolic characteristics. Data from 49 women at 9 months postpartum contributed to this cross-sectional analysis. Energy expenditure was assessed in a whole-body calorimetry unit for 24 h. Appetite sensations were rated using visual analogue scales. Lactation (min/day) was measured using a 3-day breastfeeding diary. PPWR was negatively associated with fullness (β ± SE; R
2
= –2.97 ± 0.72; 0.661; P < 0.001), and satiety (–2.75 ± 0.81; 0.617; P = 0.002), and was positively associated with hunger (2.19 ± 1.02; 0.548; P = 0.039), prospective food consumption (PFC; 2.19 ± 0.91; 0.562; P = 0.021), and composite appetite score (CAS; 0.34 ± 0.09; 0.632; P = 0.001). Lactation was associated with higher CAS (39.68 ± 15.56; 0.365; P = 0.015), hunger (3.56 ± 1.61; 0.308; P = 0.033), and PFC (4.22 ± 1.78; 0.314; P = 0.023), and with reduced sensations of fullness (–4.18 ± 1.94; 0.358; P = 0.038) and satiety (–3.83 ± 1.87; 0.295; P = 0.048). Lactation was associated with appetite, which in turn was related to PPWR. Appetite control should be explored to support postpartum weight management strategies.
Novelty
Postpartum weight retention was associated with appetite sensations, which were assessed throughout the day under conditions in which energy intake and expenditure were precisely matched.
Lactation and other maternal metabolic factors, including carbohydrate oxidation and physical activity level may play a role in controlling appetite during the postpartum period.
Mine drainage is an important environmental disturbance that affects the chemical and biological components in natural resources. However, little is known about the effects of neutral mine drainage ...on the soil bacteria community. Here, a high-throughput 16S rDNA pyrosequencing approach was used to evaluate differences in composition, structure, and diversity of bacteria communities in samples from a neutral drainage channel, and soil next to the channel, at the Sossego copper mine in Brazil. Advanced statistical analyses were used to explore the relationships between the biological and chemical data. The results showed that the neutral mine drainage caused changes in the composition and structure of the microbial community, but not in its diversity. The Deinococcus/Thermus phylum, especially the Meiothermus genus, was in large part responsible for the differences between the communities, and was positively associated with the presence of copper and other heavy metals in the environmental samples. Other important parameters that influenced the bacterial diversity and composition were the elements potassium, sodium, nickel, and zinc, as well as pH. The findings contribute to the understanding of bacterial diversity in soils impacted by neutral mine drainage, and demonstrate that heavy metals play an important role in shaping the microbial population in mine environments.
In response to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance, there is an increased demand for novel and innovative antimicrobials. Bacteriophages have been known for their potential clinical utility ...in lysing bacteria for almost a century. Social pressures and the concomitant introduction of antibiotics in the mid-1900s hindered the widespread adoption of these naturally occurring bactericides. Recently, however, phage therapy has re-emerged as a promising strategy for combatting antimicrobial resistance. A unique mechanism of action and cost-effective production promotes phages as an ideal solution for addressing antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries. As the number of phage-related research labs worldwide continues to grow, it will be increasingly important to encourage the expansion of well-developed clinical trials, the standardization of the production and storage of phage cocktails, and the advancement of international collaboration. In this review, we discuss the history, benefits, and limitations of bacteriophage research and its current role in the setting of addressing antimicrobial resistance with a specific focus on active clinical trials and case reports of phage therapy administration.
Recent offshore petroleum exploration has increased the risks of oil spills worldwide. We investigated biomarker responses to diesel oil exposure in two tropical and subtropical species, the clam
...Anomalocardia flexuosa
and the polychaete
Laeonereis culveri
. Animals were exposed to oil-spiked sediment at two different concentrations (0.5 L and 1.0 L m
−2
). Activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx); glutathione transferase (GST); and lipid peroxides (LPO) were assessed in bivalve digestive glands and polychaete whole-body homogenates at 36 and 60 h of exposure. Significant variation in enzymatic antioxidant activity depended on the sampling time after exposure. No similar response patterns, either increases or decreases, were detected for the two target species, and biomarker responses were species-specific.
L. culveri
showed clearer patterns in its antioxidant response and should be prioritized over other species in biomonitoring studies involving oil exposure. Understanding the temporal variability of these biomarkers is a necessary action before implementing them as indicators measures in oil contamination biomonitoring programs. Our results provide a better understanding of biomarker responses in subtropical species, evidencing their potential use as sentinels of oil contamination.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has as a main characteristic the exacerbation of the immune system against enterocytes, compromising the individual's intestinal microbiota. This inflammatory cascade ...causes several nutritional deficiencies, which further compromise immunological functioning and, as a result, worsen the prognosis. This vicious cycle can be interrupted as the patient's dietary pattern meets their needs according to their clinical condition, acting directly on the inflammatory process of IBD through the interaction of food, intestinal microbiota, and epigenome. Specific nutritional intervention for IBD has a crucial role in preventing and managing disease activity. This review addresses epigenetic modifications through dietary compounds as a mechanism for modulating the intestinal microbiota of patients with IBD.
Modulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/phosphatase and tensin homologue (PI3K/AKT/PTEN) pathway in mammals yields mixed results. A deep understanding of its regulation can be a ...powerful tool for better in vitro blastocyst production. This systematic review aims to map the evidence of PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway modulation during in vitro maturation (IVM), to assess its effects on meiosis resumption and nuclear maturation progression of mammalian oocytes, and their impacts on embryo development and quality. A total of 1058 articles were screened in three databases, and 22 articles were included. Fifty-two IVM assessments were identified, among which 11 evaluated blastocyst yield. Three PI3K inhibitors (3-methyladenine, Wortmannin, and LY294002) and one AKT inhibitor (SH6) were investigated. The impact of this pathway modulation on meiosis resumption in swines and murines was not well established, depending on the inhibitor used, concentration, and media supplementation, while in bovines, resumption seems to be independent of PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway. However, progression to metaphase II (MII) is highly controlled by this pathway on both bovines and swines. Studies that focused on the inhibition reversibility showed that the removal of the modulator produced MII rates similar to the control group. Experiments that aimed to temporarily block meiosis resumption or reduce PI3K activity resulted in blastocyst production equal to or even higher than control groups. Altogether, these data indicate the paramount potential of this pathway as a possible strategy to improve overall in vitro embryo production efficiency, by synchronizing both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation.
•The use of PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway inhibitors does not alter oocyte viability.•Most articles aimed to completely inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway.•PI3K/AKT/PTEN does not regulate meiosis resumption and progression equally in mammals.•Reducing activity or temporarily inhibiting meiosis are strategies for better IVP.
Abstract
Background
The ketogenic diet is a therapeutic option to control drug-resistant epileptic seizures and has difficult compliance standards due to adverse effects, psychosocial factors, or ...dietary restriction.
Objective
To create and validate a ketogenic diet compliance questionnaire.
Methods
Methodological study, convergent care. The instrument was analyzed (construct validation) by five judges during two cycles of the Delphi technique. The judges assessed the relevance and clarity by using the Likert scale with three levels and made suggestions. The validation of the instrument was calculated using the agreement rate and content validity index (CVI). The application by two nutritionists made it possible to test reproducibility using the Kappa coefficient. When comparing the classification with a template developed by the health professionals who cared for the patients in question, the Pearson correlation and Fisher exact tests were used. For the reliability test, self-applied data were collected and evaluated using Cronbach Alpha coefficient.
Results
The questionnaire initially created with 11 multiple choice questions on a Likert scale was reduced to 10 questions with an agreement rate and the CVI classified as excellent after two rounds with judges. In the application of the tool, a kappa of 0.6087 was obtained, a Pearson that showed no significant difference between evaluators and a Cronbach α of 0.6483, with substantial consistency.
Conclusions
This work resulted in the creation of an unprecedented and reliable questionnaire on adherence to the national ketogenic diet. Further studies should be performed to extrapolate the use of this questionnaire in different populations.
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