Polyphenol-Rich Extracts Obtained from Winemaking Waste Streams as Natural Ingredients with Cosmeceutical Potential

Producción CientíficaPhenolics present in grapes have been explored as cosmeceutical principles, due to their antioxidant activity and ability to inhibit enzymes relevant for skin ageing. The winemaking process generates large amounts of waste, and the recovery of bioactive compounds from residues and their further incorporation in cosmetics represents a promising market opportunity for wine producers and may contribute to a sustainable development of the sector. The extracts obtained from grape marc and wine lees, using solid–liquid (SL) extraction with and without microwave (MW) pretreatment of the raw material, were characterized in terms of antioxidant activity through chemical (ORAC/HOSC/HORAC) and cell-based (keratinocytes—HaCaT; fibroblasts—HFF) assays. Furthermore, their inhibitory capacity towards specific enzymes involved in skin ageing (elastase; MMP-1; tyrosinase) was evaluated. The total phenolic and anthocyanin contents were determined by colorimetric assays, and HPLC–DAD–MS/MS was performed to identify the main compounds. The MW pretreatment prior to conventional SL extraction led to overall better outcomes. The red wine lees extracts presented the highest phenolic content (3 to 6-fold higher than grape marc extracts) and exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity, being also the most effective inhibitors of elastase, MMP-1 and tyrosinase. The results support that winemaking waste streams are valuable sources of natural ingredients with the potential for cosmeceutical applications.European project WineSense (project FP7-386 MC-IAPP)Junta de Castilla y León (project VA040U16)Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional (fellowship FPU13/04678)Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (grants PEst-OE/EQB/LA0004/2011 and UID/Multi/04462/2013)iNOVA4Health (grant UID/Multi/04462/2013

Microwave pretreatment for the extraction of anthocyanins from saffron flowers: Assessment of product quality

Producción CientíficaThe potential of saffron flowers as a source of polyphenols, and in particular anthocyanins, for the extraction of bioactive compounds and the production of a cyanic colorant was analyzed. A microwave pretreatment, prior to the conventional solid–liquid extraction process, was proposed as a feasible intensification step. The effectiveness of microwave pretreatment was assessed in terms of increased yield and improved quality of the final product. The operational variables studied were the pretreatment temperature (60–120 °C) and the solid–liquid ratio (0.30–0.50 g/mL). It was found that the addition of the microwave pretreatment to the conventional process allowed one to reduce extraction time by up to 12 times and to greatly improve the characteristics of the final product, using microwave energy densities as low as 0.16–0.54 kJ/mL. The extract quality was evaluated in terms of polyphenol richness (25% increase), product composition (80% of the anthocyanins was delphinidin), antioxidant capacity (boosted by the pretreatment) and color (variations in red and blue hue depending on conditions). To conclude, a microwave pretreatment in which the material is heated to a temperature of 65 °C with a solvent ratio of 0.30 g/mL was selected as the optimum to maximize process efficiency and product quality.Junta de Castilla y León - (Project VA040U16

El consumo moderado y continuado de vino tinto promueve el metabolismo fenólico intestinal

Los polifenoles presentes en el vino son ampliamente metabolizados por la microbiota a lo largo del tracto gastrointestinal. Estos metabolitos fenólicos de origen microbiano parecen tener un papel relevante en los efectos beneficiosos para la salud derivados del consumo moderado de vino. Entre otros efectos, los polifenoles del vino y/o sus metabolitos pueden modificar o modular selectivamente la microbiota oral y del intestino. Con el objetivo de dilucidar como el consumo de vino afecta al metabolismo fenólico intestinal y conocer la relevancia fisiológica de estos efectos, se ha realizado un estudio de intervención en humanos que incluye a 41 voluntarios sanos (33 casos y 8 controles), basado en el consumo moderado (250mL/día) de vino tinto, durante 4 semanas. Antes y después de la intervención, se recolectaron muestras de heces procedentes de los voluntarios. El análisis de metabolitos fenólicos mediante UPLC-ESI-MS/MS ha revelado un aumento significativo en el contenido total de metabolitos de origen microbiano, principalmente de ácidos benzoicos y 4-hidroxivaléricos, en las heces de los voluntarios tras la ingesta de vino, lo que demuestra que el perfil metabólico microbiano de las heces se modifica significativamente por la ingesta moderada de polifenoles del vino.Los autores agradecen al MINECO y al CSlC la financiación obtenida para este estudio.Peer reviewe

Moderate intake of red wine promotes a significant increase of phenolic metabolites in human faeces

With the final aim of ascertaining consistent data about the changes of phenolic metabolites in faeces after a regular wine consumption, the present paper compiles the data from two previous human intervention studies: a) a pilot study (n = 8), that compared the ingestion of de-alcoholised red wine (272 mL/day), red wine (272 mL/day), or gin (100 mL/day) during 20 days, and b) a large trial study (n = 41, 33 cases and 8 controls), that assessed variability among individuals after the intake of red wine (250 mL/day, 28 days). Great coincidence was observed in the main phenolic metabolites identified in the faecal samples from both studies that included benzoic acids, phenols, hippuric acids, phenylacetic acids, phenylpropionic acids, valeric acids, valerolactones and cinnamic acids. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) in the total phenolic content between faecal samples before and after the wine intervention was only observed for the large trial study (358 ± 270 and 625 ± 380 μg/g faeces, corresponding to the mean values before and after the intervention, respectively), emphasizing the large variability in the phenolic-metabolizing gut-microbial capacity among individuals. The overall results confirm that consumption of wine enhances phenolic metabolism, which might have physiological relevancy at the gut level.This work was funded by the MINECO (AGL2009-13361-C02-01, AGL2012- 04172-C02-01, and CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010 (FUN-C-FOOD, CSD2007-063, Projects), and the Comunidad de Madrid (ALIBIRD P2009/AGR-1469 Project). AJ-G and IM-G would like to thank the European Social Fund and Jae-Doc (CSIC) and FPI Programs for their research contracts, respectively.Peer Reviewe

Does a 3-month multidisciplinary intervention improve pain, body composition and physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia?

We acknowledge BMJ Publishing Group and the British Journal of Sports Medicine for publishing our scientific article, holding the copyright to the work: https://doi.org/10.1136/BJSM.2009.070896Objective To determine the effects of a 3-month multidisciplinary intervention on pain (primary outcome), body composition and physical fitness (secondary outcomes) in women with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods 75 women with FM were allocated to a low-moderate intensity 3-month (three times/week) multidisciplinary (pool, land-based and psychological sessions) programme (n=33) or to a usual care group (n=32). The outcome variables were pain threshold, body composition (body mass index and estimated body fat percentage) and physical fitness (30 s chair stand, handgrip strength, chair sit and reach, back scratch, blind flamingo, 8 feet up and go and 6 min walk test). Results The authors observed a significant interaction effect (group*time) for the left (L) and right (R) side of the anterior cervical (p<0.001) and the lateral epicondyle R (p=0.001) tender point. Post hoc analysis revealed that pain threshold increased in the intervention group (positive) in the anterior cervical R (p<0.001) and L (p=0.012), and in the lateral epicondyle R (p=0.010), whereas it decreased (negative) in the anterior cervical R (p<0.001) and L (p=0.002) in the usual care group. There was also a significant interaction effect for chair sit and reach. Post hoc analysis revealed improvement in the intervention group (p=0.002). No significant improvement attributed to the training was observed in the rest of physical fitness or body composition variables. Conclusions A 3-month multidisciplinary intervention three times/week had a positive effect on pain threshold in several tender points in women with FM. Though no overall improvements were observed in physical fitness or body composition, the intervention had positive effects on lower-body flexibility

Fibromyalgia has a larger impact on physical health than on psychological health, yet both are markedly affected: The al-Ándalus project

We acknowledge Elsevier and the Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism for publishing our scientific article: Segura-Jiménez, V., Álvarez-Gallardo, I. C., Carbonell-Baeza, A., Aparicio, V. A., Ortega, F. B., Casimiro, A. J., & Delgado-Fernández, M. (2015). Fibromyalgia has a larger impact on physical health than on psychological health, yet both are markedly affected: The al-Ándalus project. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 44(5), 563-570. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SEMARTHRIT.2014.09.010Objectives: To characterize a representative sample of fibromyalgia women based on a set of relevant factors known to be related to this disease. To distinguish specific factors of the disease from other symptoms that might also exist in non-fibromyalgia women. To test whether fibromyalgia affects more severely physical or psychological outcomes. Methods: A total of 459 fibromyalgia women vs. 214 non-fibromyalgia (control) women from southern Spain (Andalusia) took part in this cross-sectional study. Several instruments were used to assess tenderness, impact of fibromyalgia, fatigue, health-related quality of life, mental health and cognitive performance. Results: Overall, fibromyalgia women showed a worse status in pain, fatigue, health-related quality of life, depression and anxiety than controls (P<0.01). In general, the observed associations presented very large effect sizes (Cohen’s d from ~1 to ~5.5). No differences between fibromyalgia and controls were observed in cognitive and memory performance, except for delayed recall, but the observed effect size was low (~0.25). The effect size observed for the global physical component (~3.3) was larger than that for the global psychological component (~1.3), all P<0.001. Conclusions: Our results reinforce the understanding of fibromyalgia as a polysymptomatic distress condition with pain as its main symptom. Our findings support that fibromyalgia seems to have a greater impact on physical than on psychological outcomes, though both are largely affected

Grain selective Cu oxidation and anomalous shift of graphene 2D Raman peak in the graphene-Cu system

Understanding the interaction between graphene and its supporting substrate is of paramount importance for the development of graphene based applications. In this work the interplay of the technologically relevant graphene-Cu system is investigated in detail as a function of substrate grain orientation in Cu polycrystalline foils. While (100) and (111) Cu grains show the well-known graphene-enhanced oxidation, (110) grains present a superior oxidation resistance compared to uncovered Cu and an anomalous shift of its graphene 2D Raman band which cannot be explained by the known effects of strain and doping. These results are interpreted in terms of a weak graphene-Cu coupling at the (110) grains, and show that graphene can actually be used as anticorrosion coating, contrary to previously reported. The anomalous shift is suggested to be the result of an enhanced outer Raman scattering process which surpasses the usually dominant inner process. Since Raman spectroscopy is widely used as first and main characterization tool of graphene, the existence of an anomalous shift on its 2D band not only challenges the current theory of Raman scattering in graphene, but also has profound implications from an experimental point of view

Horno microondas para el calentamiento de flujos continuos de líquidos y semisólidos

Número de publicación: 2 698 150 Número de solicitud: 201831140Horno microondas aplicable industrialmente para el calentamiento de flujos continuos de líquidos y semisólidos, cuya cavidad resonante presenta una sección con arcos circulares que permiten la concentración de la radiación de microondas multimodal en su eje central; donde el horno dispone de guías de onda cilíndricas metálicas al corte a modo de filtros electromagnéticos que permiten el paso del tubo dieléctrico hueco y el producto a procesar impidiendo la radiación de microondas al exterior, sintonizadores dieléctricos y/o metálicos para el ajuste de la distribución multimodal de la energía en el interior de la cavidad, y soportes dieléctricos sin pérdidas; donde la energía de microondas se propaga a través de una guía de onda rectangular alimentada por un sistema generador de microondas; y donde dicha guía de onda se encuentra cortocircuitada al final de la misma y se comunica con la cavidad cuasicilíndrica a través de ranuras.Universidad Politécnica de Cartagen

High Levels of Physical Fitness Are Associated with Better Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus Project

We acknowledge Oxford University Press and Physical Therapy for publishing our scientific article: Álvarez-Gallardo, I. C., Soriano-Maldonado, A., Segura-Jiménez, V., Estévez-López, F., Camiletti-Moirón, D., Aparicio, V. A., Herrador-Colmenero, M., Castro-Piñero, J., Ortega, F. B., Delgado-Fernández, M., & Carbonell-Baeza, A. (2019). High Levels of Physical Fitness Are Associated with Better Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus Project. Physical Therapy, 99(11), 1481-1494. https://doi.org/10.1093/PTJ/PZZ113Background. Physical fitness is a marker of health and is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Identifying which components of physical fitness are associated with HRQoL in people with fibromyalgia may contribute to the development of more specific therapeutic strategies. Objective. The 2 aims of this study were to examine the association of different components of physical fitness (ie, flexibility, muscle strength, speed and agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) with HRQoL and to determine the extent to which any association between the components of physical fitness and HRQoL were of clinical relevance to women with fibromyalgia. Design. A cross-sectional design was used. Methods. This study included 466 women with fibromyalgia from southern Spain (Andalusia). The Senior Fitness Test battery and the handgrip test were used to assess physical fitness, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess HRQoL. Tender points, cognitive impairment, anthropometric measurements, and medica- tion usage were also measured. First, multivariate linear regression was used to assess the individual relationship of each physical fitness test with the 8 dimensions of the SF-36. Second, a standardized composite score was computed for each component of physical fitness (flexibility, muscle strength, speed and agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness). A 1- way analysis of covariance to assess the differences in each of the 8 dimensions of the SF-36 across each physical fitness composite score was conducted. Forward stepwise regression was performed to analyze which components of physical fitness were independently associated with the SF-36 physical and mental component scales. Results. Overall, higher levels of physical fitness were associated with higher levels of HRQoL (regardless of the SF-36 subscale evaluated). The effect sizes for HRQoL between participants with the lowest and the highest physical fitness levels ranged from moderate to large (Cohen d = 0.53–0.90). The muscle strength composite score was independently associated with the SF-36 physical component scale, whereas the flexibility composite score and cardiorespiratory fitness were independently associated with the SF-36 mental component scale. Limitations. A limitation was that the cross-sectional design precluded the estab- lishment of causality. Additionally, only women were included in the study, because fibromyalgia predominantly affects women. Conclusions. High levels of physical fitness were consistently associated with better HRQoL in women with fibromyalgia; clinically relevant differences were demonstrated between those at extreme physical fitness levels. Muscle strength, flexibility, and car- diorespiratory fitness were independent indicators of HRQoL. These results warrant further prospective research on the potential of fitness to predict HRQoL in this population

Estudiantes y Campus Virtual. Utilidad del Learning Analytics para identificar luces y sombras y caminar hacia metodologías adaptativas

Sección Deptal. de Biología Celular (Medicina)Fac. de MedicinaFALSEsubmitte