Comparative analysis of the fatty acid and sterol profiles of widely consumed Mediterranean crustacean species

Comparative analysis of FA, NL and sterol profiles in the Nephropsnorvegicus (langoustine), Palinurusvulgaris (lobster) and Penaeuskerathurus (shrimp) muscle and cephalothorax showed that C16:0, C16:1ω-7, C18:0, C18:1ω-9, C20:4ω-6, EPA and DHA were found to be their major FA. Highest EPA occurred in langoustine muscle TL, DHA in both shrimp tissues TL while C20:4ω-6 in lobster muscle and cephalothorax TL. Muscle and cephalothorax NL consisted mainly of sterols (42.5–54.4% and 13.7–43.1%) and triacylglycerols (35.4–45.8% and 44.6–59.4%). Cholesterol was the major sterol (70.90–98.58% and 97.10–98.31% of total sterols in muscle and cephalothorax respectively) followed by avenasterol (0.18–20.32% and 0.07–0.70%) and β-sitosterol (0.29–7.30% and 0.23–0.75%). Lower concentrations of brassicasterol, stigmasterol, Δ7-stigmasterol, campesterol and campestanol were also found. The examined crustaceans muscle (edible part) was found to be a good ω-3 PUFA source for the consumers, while the cephalothorax (which is usually discarded) could be used effectively as a source for ω-3 PUFA production.     

Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among Puerto Rican caretakers living in Hartford, Connecticut

Household food safety education is needed to minimize the risk of exposure to foodborne pathogens. The Latino population in the United States is growing at a fast rate and has become the largest minority group in this country. However, little research has been done to identify the food safety behavioral risks faced by Puerto Ricans. Ten in-depth household observations and a quantitative survey on food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (n = 100) were conducted to understand food-handling techniques among Puerto Rican caretakers of young children. This was followed by two focus groups (n = 12) to further characterize food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and the proper media channels for the delivery of food safety education. Even though 97% of survey participants reported washing their hands with soap and water before preparing foods, only 1 of the 10 participants in the household observations actually did it. About 60% of the household participants washed the cutting boards with soap and water compared with 89% of survey participants who claimed to do it. In the survey, 5% reported to know the meaning of cross-contamination, and 71% (n = 80) to use the same cutting board for meats and vegetables. Overall, 96% of survey participants did not use a thermometer to check if meats were cooked properly and only 10% defrosted their meats in the refrigerator. Statistically significant relationships (P < 0.05) were found between speaking English and knowing the meaning of cross-contamination and how to use a meat thermometer. Employed individuals and those with higher education were also more likely to be familiar with the term pasteurization. These results fully justify the delivery of culturally appropriate food safety education in this community.     

Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Oral Mucositis—A Review

Cancer, a major world public health problem, is associated with chemotherapy treatments whose administration leads to secondary concerns, such as oral mucositis (OM). The OM disorder is characterized by the presence of ulcers in the oral mucosa that cause pain, bleeding, and difficulty in ingesting fluids and solids, or speaking. Bioactive compounds from natural sources have arisen as an effective approach for OM. This review aims to summarize the new potential application of different natural products in the prevention and treatment of OM in comparison to conventional ones, also providing a deep insight into the most recent clinical studies. Natural products, such as Aloe vera, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Camellia sinensis, Calendula officinalis, or honeybee crops, constitute examples of sources of bioactive compounds with pharmacological interest due to their well-reported activities (e.g., antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, or wound healing). These activities are associated with the bioactive compounds present in their matrix (such as flavonoids), which are associated with in vivo biological activities and minimal or absent toxicity. Finally, encapsulation has arisen as a future opportunity to preserve the chemical stability and the drug bioa vailability of bioactive compounds and, most importantly, to improve the buccal retention period and the therapeutic effects.     

Renal Injuries after Cardiac Arrest: A Morphological Ultrastructural Study

Background: This study aims to investigate the probable lesions and injuries induced in the renal tissue after a cardiac arrest. The renal ischemia–reperfusion model in cardiac arrest describes the effects of ischemia in the kidneys, alongside a whole-body ischemia–reperfusion injury. This protocol excludes ischemic conditions caused by surgical vascular manipulation, venous injury or venous congestion. Methods: For the experimental study, 24 swine were subjected to cardiac arrest. Seven minutes later, the cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique was performed for 5 min. Afterwards, advanced life support was provided. The resuscitated swine consisted one group and the non-resuscitated the other. Tissue samples were obtained from both groups for light and electron microscopy evaluation. Results: Tissue lesions were observed in the tubules, parallel to destruction of the microvilli, reduction in the basal membrane invaginations, enlarged mitochondria, cellular vacuolization, cellular apoptosis and disorganization. In addition, fusion of the podocytes, destruction of the Bowman’s capsule parietal epithelium and abnormal peripheral urinary space was observed. The damage appeared more extensive in the non-resuscitated swine group. Conclusions: Acute kidney injury is not the leading cause of death after cardiac arrest. However, evidence suggests that the kidney damage after a cardiac arrest should be highly considered in the prognosis of the patients’ health outcome.     

Potential Renal Damage Biomarkers in Alport Syndrome—A Review of the Literature

Alport syndrome (AS) is the second most common cause of inherited chronic kidney disease. This disorder is caused by genetic variants on COL4A3, COL4A4 and COL4A5 genes. These genes encode the proteins that constitute collagen type IV of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The heterodimer COL4A3A4A5 constitutes the majority of the GBM, and it is essential for the normal function of the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB). Alterations in any of collagen type IV constituents cause disruption of the GMB structure, allowing leakage of red blood cells and albumin into the urine, and compromise the architecture of the GFB, inducing inflammation and fibrosis, thus resulting in kidney damage and loss of renal function. The advances in DNA sequencing technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, allow an accurate diagnose of AS. Due to the important risk of the development of progressive kidney disease in AS patients, which can be delayed or possibly prevented by timely initiation of therapy, an early diagnosis of this condition is mandatory. Conventional biomarkers such as albuminuria and serum creatinine increase relatively late in AS. A panel of biomarkers that might detect early renal damage, monitor therapy, and reflect the prognosis would have special interest in clinical practice. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the biomarkers of renal damage in AS as described in the literature. We found that urinary Podocin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A are important markers of podocyte injury. Urinary Epidermal Growth Factor has been related to tubular damage, interstitial fibrosis and rapid progression of the disease. Inflammatory markers such as Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1, High Motility Group Box 1 and Urinary Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein- 1 are also increased in AS and indicate a higher risk of kidney disease progression. Studies suggest that miRNA-21 is elevated when renal damage occurs. Novel techniques, such as proteomics and microRNAs, are promising.     

A virtual reality platform to simulate orientation and mobility training for the visually impaired

Virtual Reality - Blindness and low vision are an urgent, steadily increasing public health concern. One of the most dramatic consequences of the debilitating conditions that cause visual...     

Impacts of small dams on the phytoplankton and invertebrates in an Amazonian river

The construction of small hydroelectric plants (SHPs) has increased greatly worldwide, and the impacts of these impoundments can cause changes in the aquatic biota. Here, we investigated the ecological attributes (abundance, richness, and species diversity) of three communities (phytoplankton, invertebrates in the water column, and benthos) and the functional groups of phytoplankton, before and after the construction of five SHPs in an Amazonian river. The communities were sampled at two sites, one upstream and another downstream of each dam or construction site, before the dam closure. The dam did not change the limnological factors, and the acid waters and low electrical conductivity, typical of “cerrado” rivers, were characteristic of both the pre- and post-dam phases. For aquatic communities, the phytoplankton abundance increased and the diversity of groups decreased in the post-dam phase. Regarding the morphology-based functional groups (MBFG), there was an increase in groups I (small algae with a high surface/volume ratio) and V (phytoflagellates), with a reduction in groups VI (diatoms) and VII (large mucilaginous colonies) in the post-dam phase. The relative abundance of zooplankton species increased in the post-dam phase, and the opposite was observed for the benthic community, with reductions in abundance, richness, and group diversity in the post-dam phase. The structure of the three communities differed between the pre- and post-dam phases, but no difference in communities' similarity was observed between the upstream and downstream sites in both phases. The results show that the change in hydrodynamics, from lotic to semi-lentic, in the reservoirs of the SHPs, was the main driving force for the alterations in the three communities. For phytoplankton, SHPs are favorable in the sense of decreasing the incidence of algal blooms, particularly of cyanobacteria.