The study compares the efficiency of common aqueous extraction (CE) at different pH (2.5–11) and temperatures (20–60°C) and extraction assisted by pulsed electric energy (pulsed electric fields, PEF ...or high voltage electrical discharges, HVED) of nutritionally valuable and antioxidant compounds from papaya seeds. The exponential decay pulses with initial electric field strengths of ≈13.3kV/cm and ≈40kV/cm for PEF and HVED treatments, respectively, were used. The number of pulses n was changed within 1–2000. The impacts of temperature and pH on extraction efficiency of different components (proteins, total phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, isothiocyanates) and antioxidant capacity were ambiguous. The highest values of nutritionally valuable and antioxidant compounds were obtained for HVED-assisted extraction. However, the application of HVED-treatment may produce undesirable contaminants (chemical products of electrolysis, free reactive radicals, etc.) and extracts were unstable and cloudy. On the other hand, the application of the two-stage procedure PEF+ supplementary aqueous extraction (+SAE) that include PEF-assisted extraction as the first step, and +SAE at 50°C, pH=7 during 3h as the second step, allowed noticeable enhancement of the yields (+200%) and antioxidant capacities (+20%) even at neutral pH. This method has high prospects of industrial applications for release of valuable components from papaya seeds.
•Extraction from papaya seeds assisted by pulsed electric energy was studied.•Pulsed electric fields (PEF) and high voltage electrical discharges (HVED) were applied.•Highest values of nutritionally valuable compounds were obtained for HVED.•Effects of pH and temperature on common aqueous extraction (CE) were studied.•Two stage PEF+SAE extraction procedure was effective even at neutral pH.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection–sperm-mediated gene transfer (ICSI-SMGT) is a useful tool for the production of transgenic mice but is still rather inefficient in farm animals. In the current study, ...we evaluated the effect of the sperm treatments on the efficiency for producing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing pig embryos by ICSI-SMGT. Four different sperm treatments were assayed: (1) fresh (control), (2) frozen-thawing (FT), (3) quick freezing without cryoprotectant agents (QF), and (4) Triton X-100 treatment (TX-100). First, we evaluated the DNA-binding ability and the viability of sperm under the different treatments coincubated with exogenous DNA (EGFP) by flow cytometry. Second, we evaluated the embryo production rate and the efficiency in transgene expression in embryos after using these spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes by ICSI. Sperm treatment significantly increased DNA-binding capacity but reduced sperm viability compared with that of the control group. Treatments damaging the spermatozoa's membranes (QF and TX-100) resulted in a greater capacity of sperm binding exogenous DNA than that after FT treatment (P
<
0.01). Similar rates of EGFP-expressing embryos were obtained from the control, FT, and TX-100 groups (37.04
±
3.52%, 43.54
±
5.41%, and 29.03
±
8.29%, respectively), but were significantly higher in the QF group (80.43
±
5.91%). These results demonstrate that the integrity of the sperm plasma membrane plays a critical role in DNA interaction, and altered plasma membranes facilitate interactions between an injected exogenous DNA and the sperm chromatin. However, severe sperm treatments such as QF and TX-100 may damage the sperm nucleus, induce DNA fragmentation, and/or lead to chromosomal breakage with a detrimental effect on further embryonic development.
This paper describes the application of a combined high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunological assay method for the measurement of prostaglandins E1(PGE1) and E2(PGE2). Samples were ...acidified to pH 3.15, extracted twice with ethyl acetate and further processed through C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges. After HPLC purification, PGE1 and PGE2 were measured by radioimmunological techniques. The limit of detection for PGE1 was 3.9 pg/ml and the intra-assay relative standard deviation was 7.8% for n = 5. The accuracy of the assay procedure was also verified. The method has been applied to the determination of PGE1 and PGE2 in embryo incubates from 10-day pregnant rats.
This contribution is devoted to construct numerical approximations to the solution of the one‐dimensional boundary value problem for the heat model with uncertainty in the diffusion coefficient. ...Approximations are constructed via random numerical schemes. This approach permits discussing the effect of the random diffusion coefficient, which is assumed a random variable. We establish results about the consistency and stability of the random difference scheme using mean square convergence. Finally, an illustrative example is presented.
Aim The study evaluated the rate of reversal of Hartmann’s operation after the initial surgery and its morbidity.
Method A multicentre retrospective study was carried out in seven hospitals in the ...Valencia area of patients who underwent Hartmann’s operation from 2004 to 2008. The incidence of reversal was determined.
Results Four hundred and fifty‐two patients of mean age 67.5 ± 15.4 years were included, of whom 78.8% had an emergency operation. The most common diagnosis was cancer (58.6%), although diverticulitis predominated in the emergency setting. At a median follow up of 44 months, 159 (35.2%) patients had undergone reversal, including 16.6% after elective surgery and 40.4% after an emergency Hartmann’s procedure (P < 0.001). The most frequent reason why reversal was not done was death (74 25% patients). Patients undergoing reversal were younger and had a low ASA risk. Trauma was associated with a higher rate of reversal, followed by diverticular disease. Surgery was performed at a median of 10 months. An open approach with stapled anastomosis was used in most cases. The mortality was 3.5%. Complications occurred in 45.2%, with a 6.2% rate of anastomotic leakage. Complications were associated with age, diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, obesity, smoking, chemotherapy and COPD.
Conclusion Hartmann’s reversal was performed in a small percentage of patients, mostly including those with benign disease. It had a significant morbidity.
La enfermedad del sistema musculoesquelético es una causa frecuente de demanda asistencial. El conocimiento en medicina musculoesquelética (MME) debe ser esencial para gran parte de las ...especialidades. Desafortunadamente, gran parte de los médicos internos residentes (MIR) reconocen tener falta de confianza y de competencia en este campo.
Cincuenta MIR recién incorporados a su plaza (32 de ellos residentes de COT de la Comunidad Valenciana) completaron el test de competencia básica en MME de Freedman y Berstein. Además, realizaron un cuestionario sobre el grado de confianza a la hora de desempeñar 5 tareas habituales en la práctica clínica y sobre la percepción de la carga curricular de MME en su formación académica.
La puntuación media global obtenida en el test fue de 69,44% (SD 13,32%), mientras que la puntuación concreta para 5 preguntas que se consideraban «banderas rojas» fue de 14,34%(SD 2,58%). Ambas mostraron diferencias significativas entre los residentes de COT y otras especialidades.
La mediana obtenida en la valoración del nivel de confianza en la exploración de heridas fue de 2 sobre 5 (IQR 2), con diferencias significativas (p=0,014) entre el grupo COT y el de otras especialidades. La percepción del tiempo dedicado en la facultad en materia de MME fue considerada como adecuada (mediana 3, IQR 1). El 64% modificaría el planteamiento de la parte práctica del currículo en MME.
La prueba global fue superada por el 50% de los residentes, lo cual pone de manifiesto que la enseñanza en MME es deficitaria durante el periodo universitario y formativo preMIR. Consideramos primordial la planificación de acciones formativas que se traduzca en un aumento de los conocimientos y aptitudes necesarias para su correcto manejo, ya que ello se traduciría en una mayor agilidad del sistema, una mejor asistencia sanitaria y un mejor cribado de derivaciones especializadas.
Pathology of the musculoskeletal system is a frequent cause of healthcare requirements. Knowledge of musculoskeletal medicine (MSM) should be essential for most specialties. Unfortunately, many medical intern residents (MIRs) admit to a lack of confidence and competence in this field.
50 recently hired MIRs (32 of whom were COT residents from the Comunidad Valenciana) completed the Freedman and Berstein test of basic competency in MSM. In addition, they completed a questionnaire about their confidence in performing five common tasks in clinical practice and their perception of the curricular importance of medicine in their academic training.
The overall mean score obtained on the test was 69.44% (SD 13.32%), while the specific score for 5 “red flags” questions was 14.34% (SD 2.58%). Both of them showed significant differences between COT residents and other specialties.
The median obtained in the evaluation of the level of confidence in wound examination was 2 above 5 (IQR 2), with significant differences (p=.014) between the COT group and other specialties. The perception of the time spent in the faculty on MSM was considered adequate (median 3, IQR 1). 64% of participants would modify the approach to the practical part of the curriculum in MME.
The overall test was passed by 50% of the residents, which shows that the teaching of MME is deficient during the university and pre-MIR training period. We believe that it is important to plan training actions to increase the knowledge and skills necessary for its correct handling; this way, the system would be more efficient with better health care and a better screening of specialised derivations.
•WO3 nanorods were obtained at 600 °C in air and N2 atmospheres.•At 600 °C samples became completely crystalline and dehydrated.•Hole transfer from the samples to the electrolyte was favored at high ...temperatures.•Higher donor densities were observed upon increasing annealing temperature.•The best photoelectrochemical performance was obtained for samples treated at 600 °C.
Nanostructured WO3 photoanodes have been synthesized by electrochemical anodization under controlled hydrodynamic conditions in acidic media in the presence of 0.05 M H2O2. Subsequently, samples have been subjected to a thermal treatment (annealing) at different temperatures (400 °C, 500 °C and 600 °C) and under different gaseous atmospheres (air, N2, Ar). The influence of these annealing conditions on the morphology, crystallinity, photoelectrochemical behavior and dopant chemistry of the different photoanodes has been investigated through Electronic Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Photoelectrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis. In general, higher annealing temperatures resulted in samples with higher degrees of crystallinity, which in turn favored the transport of electron-hole pairs through the semiconducting photoanodes. Besides, an increase in annealing temperature implied higher densities of donor species within the samples structure, which can explain the observed enhancement in charge transfer. Annealing temperature was observed to have a more marked impact on the photoelectrocatalytic performance of WO3 nanostructures than the gaseous atmosphere.
Purpose
Many evidences show that the hormone relaxin plays a pivotal role in the physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system. This pleiotropic hormone exerts regulatory functions through ...specific receptors in cardiovascular tissues: in experimental animal models it was shown to induce coronary vasodilation, prevent cardiac damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion and revert cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. A tight relationship between this hormone and important metabolic pathways has been suggested, but it is at present unknown if relaxin could regulate cardiac metabolism. Our aim was to study the possible effects of relaxin on cardiomyocyte metabolism.
Methods
Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with relaxin and (3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays (MTT) were performed to assess metabolic activity; while 2-deoxy-D-
3
H glucose and BODIPY-labelled fatty acid incorporations were analyzed to measure glucose and fatty acid uptakes, and western blot was utilized to study the intracellular signaling pathways activated by the hormone.
Results
We observed that relaxin at 10 ng/ml was able to increase the level of metabolic activity of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes; the rate of 2-deoxy-D-
3
Hglucose incorporation demonstrated that relaxin also induced an increase in glucose uptake. First evidence is also offered that relaxin can activate the master energy sensor and regulator AMPK in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, the treatment of cardiomyocytes with relaxin also induced dose-dependent increases in ERK1/2, AKT, and AS160 phosphorylation. That raise in AS160 phosphorylation induced by relaxin was prevented by the pretreatment with AMPK and AKT pathways inhibitors, indicating that both molecules play important roles in the relaxin effects reported.
Conclusion
Relaxin can regulate cardiomyocyte metabolism and activate AMPK, the central sensor of energy status that maintains cellular energy homeostasis, and also ERK and AKT, two molecular sensing nodes that coordinate dynamic responses of the cell’s metabolic responses.
•Very small WO3 nanorods or nanosheets were obtained.•Annealing at 600 °C resulted in completely dehydrated and crystalline nanostructures.•Interfacial charge transfer was enhanced by annealing at ...600 °C.•Chlorfenvinphos degradation took place through the cleavage of the aromatic ring.•Optimum values for degradation were pH 1 and annealing at 600 °C.
A visible-light driven photoelectrochemical degradation process has been applied to a solution polluted with the organophosphate insecticide chlorfenvinphos. Different WO3 nanosheets/nanorods have been used as photoanodes. These nanostructured electrodes have been fabricated by anodization of tungsten and, subsequently, they have been subjected to a thermal treatment (annealing). The combined influence of annealing temperature (400 °C and 600 °C) and operation pH (1 and 3) on the photoelectrocatalytic behavior of these nanorods has been examined through a statistical analysis. Morphological, structural and photoelectrochemical characterizations have also been carried out. The chlorfenvinphos degradation efficiency depended both on annealing temperature and, specially, operation pH. At pH 1 and using an annealing temperature of 600 °C, chlorfenvinphos has been effectively degraded following pseudo-first order kinetics with a coefficient of 7.8 × 10−3 min−1, and notably mineralized (more than 65% of Total Organic Carbon decrease).
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