Chronic venous insufficiency and its manifestations in the foot

[Abstract] Chronic venous insufficiency is a common condition that affects a large number of population, being a frequent reason for consultation with an important clinical, social and economic impact. Through this case report, we show how the existence of chronic venous insufficiency can affect foot health, reflected in the form of non-specific symptoms such as numbness, tingling and heaviness in the foot, and availing ourselves of this case we make a review of chronic venous disease in relation to its pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapeutic management[Resumen] La insuficiencia venosa crónica es una patología que afecta a un elevado número de personas, siendo un motivo de consulta muy frecuente, lo que conlleva múltiples repercusiones clínicas, sociales y económicas. A través de este caso clínico, mostramos cómo la existencia de una insuficiencia venosa crónica puede repercutir en la salud del pie, reflejándose en forma de sintomatología inespecífica como prurito, parestesias, hormigueo y pesadez a nivel del mismo. Valiéndonos de este caso realizamos una revisión de la enfermedad venosa crónica en relación a su fisiopatología, diagnóstico y manejo terapéutic

Isolation and Quantification of Mandelonitrile from Arabidopsis thaliana Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

ProtocoloMandelonitrile is a nitrogen-containing compound, considered an essential secondary metabolite. Chemically, it is a cyanohydrin derivative of benzaldehyde, with relevant functions in different physiological processes including defense against phytophagous arthropods. So far, procedures for detecting mandelonitrile have been effectively applied in cyanogenic plant species such as Prunus spp. Nevertheless, its presence in Arabidopsis thaliana, considered a non-cyanogenic species, has never been determined. Here, we report the development of an accurate protocol for mandelonitrile quantification in A. thaliana within the context of A. thaliana–spider mite interaction. First, mandelonitrile was isolated from Arabidopsis rosettes using methanol; then, it was derivatized by silylation to enhance detection and, finally, it was quantified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The selectivity and sensitivity of this method make it possible to detect low levels of mandelonitrile (LOD 3 ppm) in a plant species considered non-cyanogenic that, therefore, will have little to no cyanogenic compounds, using a small quantity of starting material (≥ 100 mg).This work was supported by funds of “La Caixa” Foundation (LCF/PR18/51130007) and Ministerio de Universidades-European Union in the frame of NextGenerationEU RD 289/2021 (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)

Smart Polymers for Food and Water Quality Control and Safety

A large number of annual cases of diseases and deaths related to spoiled or contaminated food, and the amount of food waste are a matter of socio-economic impact, highlighting the need for a fast, easy, cheap, available, and real-time determination of food quality and safety. To ensure this, physical and chemical food quality indicators such as humidity, temperature, gases, pH, microorganisms, pesticides, etc., should be controlled and monitored during production, transportation, storage, and consumption. In this sense, smart polymers are raised as useful tools to facilitate this task. These polymers are sensitive to variations in the microenvironment, modifying their properties and/or generating a response that can be measured. Due to their versatility, these materials can be part of the food packaging to inform the consumers or be used as a measuring tool to determine the state of the food. This chapter envisaged the concept of smart polymers, the types, and their main applications for determining food quality and ensuring food and beverage safety.We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional), the Spanish AEI (State Research Agency, PID2020-113264RBI00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and PID2019-108583RJI00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), and "La Caixa" Foundation (under agreement LCF/PR/PR18/51130007). We also acknowledge the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Universidades (Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliciencia, European Union-NextGenerationEU, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (RD 289/2021) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CA1/RSUE/2021-00409))

Film-shaped reusable smart polymer to produce lactose-free milk by simple immersion

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of a highly manageable polyacrylic film material for enzyme immobilization, using β-galactosidase (β-gal) as a model enzyme. The material is based on commercially available monomers and achieves efficient immobilization of β-gal through the formation of azo linkages between amino styrene groups in the polyacrylic material and the enzyme. The immobilized enzyme demonstrates superior performance compared to free enzyme in lactose hydrolysis of UHT milk, achieving lactose concentrations below 0.1% (<1 mg/mL), indicating its potential for lactose hydrolysis in dairy products. The film-shaped material is designed for easy submersion and removal, similar to a smart card, and offers reusability, with the ability to be reused at least 10 times without loss of enzymatic activity. Characterization of the immobilized enzyme on the polymeric material was performed using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy. Protein release studies confirmed the stability of the immobilized enzyme during prolonged incubation in aqueous solution without significant enzyme leakage. Overall, the polyacrylic film material demonstrates promise as a simple and efficient approach for enzyme immobilization, with potential applications in various industries, including the food industry.We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by all funders. This work was supported by the Regional Government of Castilla y León (Junta de Castilla y León) and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation MICIN and the European Union NextGenerationEU PRTR. Author J. M. García received grant PID2020-113264RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. A. Arnaiz received funding from Ministerio de Universidades-European Union in the frame of NextGenerationEU RD 289/2021 (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). J. L. Vallejo-García received the grant PRE2021-09812 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”. Author Saul Vallejos received grant BG22/00086 funded by Spanish Ministerio de Universidades

From Classical to Advanced Use of Polymers in Food and Beverage Applications

Polymers are extensively used in food and beverage packaging to shield against contaminants and external damage due to their barrier properties, protecting the goods inside and reducing waste. However, current trends in polymers for food, water, and beverage applications are moving forward into the design and preparation of advanced polymers, which can act as active packaging, bearing active ingredients in their formulation, or controlling the head-space composition to extend the shelf-life of the goods inside. In addition, polymers can serve as sensory polymers to detect and indicate the presence of target species, including contaminants of food quality indicators, or even to remove or separate target species for later quantification. Polymers are nowadays essential materials for both food safety and the extension of food shelf-life, which are key goals of the food industry, and the irruption of smart materials is opening new opportunities for going even further in these goals. This review describes the state of the art following the last 10 years of research within the field of food and beverage polymer’s applications, covering present applications, perspectives, and concerns related to waste generation and the circular economy.This work was supported by the Regional Government of Castilla y León (Junta de Castilla y León) and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation MICIN and the European Union NextGeneration EU PRTR. The project leading to these results has received funding from “La Caixa” Foundation, under the agreement LCF/PR/PR18/51130007. We also gratefully acknowledge the grant PID2020-113264RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Finally, we want to acknowledge the funding from Ministerio de UniversidadesEuropean Union in the frame of NextGenerationEU RD 289/2021 (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-CA1/RSUE/2021-00409)

Metal-free organic polymer for the preparation of a reusable antimicrobial material with real-life application as an absorbent food pad

There is a strong need to reduce food waste while maintaining the quality of packaged food. Thus, we have prepared a new fully organic and metal-free antimicrobial polymer, with the aim of increasing both the shelf life and safety of packaged meat. This antimicrobial polymer is based on widely available commercial acrylic monomers with covalently linked vanillin motifs, which are naturally occurring essential oils with antimicrobial characteristics. The film-shaped antibacterial polymeric material shows antibacterial activity for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes with an R parameter of up to 3.18, 3.37 and 2.00 and inhibition % of up to 99.95%, 99.96%, and 99.02%, respectively. To show the potential of these materials, we conducted a proof of concept experiment in which the antimicrobial polymer film was used as an absorbent food pad. The results show that the use of the antimicrobial polymer film can increase the shelf life of a packaged meat product by 50%. Since the antimicrobial activity is based on a covalently anchored group, there is no antimicrobial agent diffusion, and the antimicrobial activity persists beyond the first use because it is easily washable and reusable for at least 10 cycles.We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional), the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion ´ (PID2020–113264RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/50110001 1033) and "La Caixa" Foundation (the project leading to these results has received funding from the "La Caixa" Foundation, under agreement LCF/ PR/PR18/51130007)

Lab-on-a-chip for the easy and visual detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva based on sensory polymers

The initial stages of the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 showed that early detection of the virus in a simple way is the best tool until the development of vaccines. Many different tests are invasive or need the patient to cough up or even drag a sample of mucus from the throat area. Besides, the manufacturing time has proven insufficient in pandemic conditions since they were out of stock in many countries. Here we show a new method of manufacturing virus sensors and a proof of concept with SARS-CoV-2. We found that a fluorogenic peptide substrate of the main protease of the virus (Mpro) can be covalently immobilized in a polymer, with which a cellulose-based material can be coated. These sensory labels fluoresce with a single saliva sample of a positive COVID-19 patient. The results matched with that of the antigen tests in 22 of 26 studied cases (85% success rate).We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by all funders. Author Saul Vallejos coordinates the project leading to these results, which has received funding from "La Caixa" Foundation, under agreement LCF/PR/PR18/51130007. This work was supported by the Regional Government of Castilla y León (Junta de Castilla y León) and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation MICIN and the European Union NextGenerationEU PRTR. Author Jose Miguel García received grant PID2020–113264RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Ana Arnaiz received funding from Ministerio de Universidades-European Union in the frame of NextGenerationEU RD 289/2021 (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). Finally, all the authors want to thank the support provided by City Hall of Villadiego “Ayuntamiento de Villadiego” when looking for participants for the proof of concept

Senescence-associated proteolysis induced by abiotic and biotic stresses in barley leaves

Leaf senescence is a recycling process characterized by a massive degradation of macromolecules to relocalize nutrients from leaves to growing or storage tissues. Our aim is to identify and analyze the C1A Cysteine ‐Protease (CysProt) family members from barley (35 cathepsin L‐,3B‐,1Hand3F‐like) involved in leaf senescence, to study their modulation by their specific inhibitors (cystatins) and to determine their roles mediated by abiotic (darkness and N starvation) and biotic (pathogens and pest) stresses

Biological activity and photocatalytic properties of a naphthyl-imidazo phenanthroline (HNAIP) ligand and its [Ir(ppy)2(HNAIP)]Cl and [Rh(ppy)2(HNAIP)]Cl complexes

The synthesized 2-(hydroxy-1-naphtyl)imidazo-[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (HNAIP) ligand and its new iridium ([Ir(ppy)2(HNAIP)]Cl) and rhodium ([Rh(ppy)2(HNAIP)]Cl) complexes, being ppy = 2-phenylpiridinate, show cytotoxic effects in SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma) and A549 (epithelial lung adenocarcinoma) cells. They all are cytotoxic in the tested cell lines. HNAIP and [Rh(ppy)2(HNAIP)]+ are the most cytotoxic, whereas [Ir(ppy)2(HNAIP)]+ displays negligible cytotoxicity towards A549 cells and moderate activity towards SW480. The interaction of all three compounds with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), l-glutathione reduced (GSH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and DNA was studied to explain the differences found in terms of cytotoxicity. None of them are able to interact with BSA, thus excluding bioavailability due to plasma protein interaction as the possible differentiating factor in their biological activity. By contrast, small differences have been observed regarding DNA interaction. In addition, taking advantage of the emission properties of these molecules, they have been visualized in the cytoplasmic region of A549 cells. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) experiments show, in turn, that the internalization ability follow the sequence [Rh(ppy)2(HNAIP)]+ > [Ir(ppy)2(HNAIP)]+ > cisplatin. Therefore, it seems clear that the cellular uptake by tumour cells is the key factor affecting the different cytotoxicity of the metal complexes and that this cellular uptake is influenced by the hydrophobicity of the studied complexes. On the other hand, preliminary catalytic experiments performed on the photo-oxidation of GSH and some amino acids such as l-methionine (Met), l-cysteine (Cys) and l-tryptophan (Trp) provide evidence for the photocatalytic activity of the Ir(III) complex in this type of reactions.“la Caixa” Banking Foundation (LCF/PR/PR12/11070003), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (RTI2018-102040-B-100 and RTI2018-100709-B-C21), Junta de Castilla y León (BU305P18, FEDER Funds

Straightforward purification method for the determination of the activity of glucose oxidase and catalase in honey by extracting polyphenols with a film-shaped polymer

Glucose oxidase (GOX) and catalase (CAT) regulate the amount of H2O2 in honey, by generating or consuming it, so they are related to the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of honey. However, their activities are hardly analysed, since the process requires a previous dialysis that is non-selective, very time-consuming (>24 h), eco-unfriendly (>6L of buffer) and expensive. This research shows the design and performance of a material that selectively removes the actual interferents. The film-shaped-polymer is immersed for 90́ within a honey solution (12.5 mL of buffer), where it interacts exclusively with 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes, which we proved to be the real interferents (the material contains motifs derived from phenylboronic acid to interact with 1,2-diols). Polymeric chains favour condensation to occur exclusively with 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes, excluding monosaccharides. The interferents’ removal using our designed polymer is selective, low cost (1.42€ per test), rapid and eco-friendly (saves 6L of buffer and 20.5 h of experimental workout per sample).We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by all funders. Author Jose Miguel García received grant PID2020-113264RB-I00 / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Ana Arnaiz received funding from Ministerio de Universidades-European Union in the frame of NextGenerationEU RD 289/2021 (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). We also gratefully acknowledge European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Gianluca Utzeri thanks Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for PhD grant (SFR/BD/146358/2019). The Coimbra Chemistry Centre is supported by the FCT, through Projects UIDB/00313/2020 and UIDP/00313/2020. To all the beekeepers who provided a sample of honey for this study