Let's Talk About Stereochemistry for a Moment: a Home Experiment Conducted with College Students in Social Isolation

Due to COVID-19, we are adjusting to a new educational environment while also being socially isolated. By combining previously established ways of remote education with video conferences, the world is creating a new sector termed techno-pedagogy. The concept of stereochemistry in Organic Chemistry is frequently difficult to understand even in classroom teaching. Plane-polarized light rotation is difficult to describe because it needs a high level of abstraction in the mental exercise. As a result, we propose in this work that technology be developed to teach stereochemistry remotely. As a result, we prepared a training video that shows college students how to execute a hand-made stereochemistry experiment. Lecturers, undergraduates, and graduate students all gave the video great scores

Species Identification of Food Spoilage and Pathogenic Bacteria by MALDI-TOF Mass Fingerprinting

18 pages, 1 table, 2 figuresFood quality and safety is an increasingly important public health issue. Nowadays, the topics “food quality” and “food safety” are very close and two important issues in the food sector, due to the globalization of the food supply and the increased complexity of the food chain. The consumers need to purchase safe products that do not involve any kind of risk for health. On one hand, the aim of the “food safety” is to avoid health hazards for the consumer: microbiological hazards, pesticide residues, misuse of food additives and contaminants, such as chemicals, biological toxins and adulteration. On the other hand, “food quality” includes all attributes that influence the value of a product for the consumer; this includes negative attributes such as spoilage, contamination with filth, discoloration, off-odors and positive attributes such as the origin, color, flavor, texture and processing method of the food (FAO, 2003)This work was funded by project 10PXIB261045PR from Xunta de Galicia and by project AGL2010-19646 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. The work of K. Böhme and I.C. Fernández-No is supported by a “Maria Barbeito” and “Lucas Labrada” research contract from Xunta de GaliciaN

Non-edible parts of Solanum stramoniifolium Jacq. - a new potent source of bioactive extracts rich in phenolic compounds for functional foods

Extracts prepared from leaves, roots, and stems of Solanum stramoniifolium Jacq. (Solanaceae) in 80% ethanol have been tested for their in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities with an aim to find new sources of substances for functional foods and food additives. The root extract revealed the highest antioxidant activity in all assays exceeding the trolox capacity, and was the only extract that inhibited nitric oxide production in mouse macrophage cells, showing also the capacity to suppress the growth of all tested human tumor cell lines (MCF-7, NCI-H460, HeLa and HepG2). The leaf extract showed the strongest antimicrobial activity inhibiting all tested clinical isolates. To the author's best knowledge it was the first time that all individual parts of this plant were tested for biological activity together with the phenolic compound characterization.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) [UID/AGR/00690/2013, SFRH/BPD/107855/2015, SFRH/BPD/101413/2014, SFRH/BPD/BPD/68344/2010]; FEDER [UID/AGR/00690/2013, SFRH/BPD/107855/2015, SFRH/BPD/101413/2014, SFRH/BPD/BPD/68344/2010]; FEDER, through POCI-COMPETE [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984]; FCT [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984]; Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2016/003]POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984, CIMO, Kansainvälisen Liikkuvuuden ja Yhteistyön Keskus; POCI-COMPETE2020, FCT, Fundació Catalana de Trasplantament; SFRH/BPD/101413/2014, CIMO, Kansainvälisen Liikkuvuuden ja Yhteistyön Keskus; SFRH/BPD/107855/2015, CIMO, Kansainvälisen Liikkuvuuden ja Yhteistyön Keskus; SFRH/BPD/BPD/68344/2010, CIMO, Kansainvälisen Liikkuvuuden ja Yhteistyön Keskus; UID/AGR/00690/2013, CIMO, Kansainvälisen Liikkuvuuden ja Yhteistyön Keskus; FEDER, Federación Española de Enfermedades Rara

Association between preterm-birth phenotypes and differential morbidity, growth, and neurodevelopment at age 2 years: Results from the INTERBIO-21st newborn study

Importance: The etiologic complexities of preterm birth remain inadequately understood, which may impede the development of better preventative and treatment measures.Objective: To examine the association between specific preterm-birth phenotypes and clinical, growth, and neurodevelopmental differences among preterm newborns compared with term newborns up to age 2 years.Design, setting, and participants: The INTERBIO-21st study included a cohort of preterm and term newborn singletons enrolled between March 2012 and June 2018 from maternity hospitals in 6 countries worldwide who were followed up from birth to age 2 years. All pregnancies were dated by ultrasonography. Data were analyzed from November 2019 to October 2020.Exposures/interventions: Preterm-birth phenotypes.Main outcomes and measures: Infant size, health, nutrition, and World Health Organization motor development milestones assessed at ages 1 and 2 years; neurodevelopment evaluated at age 2 years using the INTERGROWTH-21st Neurodevelopment Assessment (INTER-NDA) tool.Results: A total of 6529 infants (3312 boys [50.7%]) were included in the analysis. Of those, 1381 were preterm births (mean [SD] gestational age at birth, 34.4 [0.1] weeks; 5148 were term births (mean [SD] gestational age at birth, 39.4 [0] weeks). Among 1381 preterm newborns, 8 phenotypes were identified: no main maternal, fetal, or placental condition detected (485 infants [35.1%]); infections (289 infants [20.9%]); preeclampsia (162 infants [11.7%]); fetal distress (131 infants [9.5%]); intrauterine growth restriction (110 infants [8.0%]); severe maternal disease (85 infants [6.2%]); bleeding (71 infants [5.1%]); and congenital anomaly (48 infants [3.5%]). For all phenotypes, a previous preterm birth was a risk factor for recurrence. Each phenotype displayed differences in neonatal morbidity and infant outcomes. For example, infants with the no main condition detected phenotype had low neonatal morbidity but increased morbidity and hospitalization incidence at age 1 year (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% CI, 1.8-2.7). Compared with term newborns, the highest risk of scoring lower than the 10th centile of INTER-NDA normative values was observed in the fine motor development domain among newborns with the fetal distress (OR, 10.6; 95% CI, 5.1-22.2) phenotype.Conclusions and relevance: Results of this study suggest that phenotypic classification may provide a better understanding of the etiologic factors and mechanisms associated with preterm birth than continuing to consider it an exclusively time-based entity

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata) head oils recovered by microwave-assisted extraction: nutritional quality and biological properties

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and Soxhlet extraction (SE) were used to obtain oil from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) heads. The MAE technique allowed the recovery of more than 50% of the total lipid con- tent for both fish by-products in less than 11 min extraction. Based on their fatty acid composition, all fish head oils presented a healthy lipid profile and were found to be a good source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 11–14%). Different lipid quality indices also revealed their cardiovascular protective potential. Oils obtained by MAE showed higher antibacterial and antifungal effects against food pathogens than those extracted by SE. Cellular antioxidant activity (29–35% oxidation inhibition) and anti-inflammatory poten- tial via NO production inhibition (IC50 = 14–21 μg/mL) were evaluated using murine macrophages cells (RAW 264.7). The highest cytotoxic effect (GI50 = 38–46 μg/mL) of fish head oils was observed against breast cancer cells (MCF-7). These results showed that sea bass and gilthead sea bream heads could be exploited for the production of oil with nu- tritional and bioactive properties in line with circular bioeconomy concepts.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). To FCT for the contracts of J. Pinela (CEECIND/01011/2018) and L. Barros (institutional scientific employment program-contract). Work funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI), within the scope of project HealthyPETFOOD (POCI-01-0247-FEDER- 047073), and by BBI-JU through the H2020 Project AQUABIOPRO-FIT “Aquaculture and agriculture biomass side streams proteins and bioactives for feed, fitness, and health promoting nutritional supplements” (Grant number 790956)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predictors of high-quality cord blood units

BACKGROUNDAnalysis of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplants shows a correlation between engraftment and total number of infused cells. Thus, it is worth evaluating what maternal and neonatal characteristics and collection techniques may affect the quality of UCB units. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was performed with 7897 donors sequentially selected in three health care institutions in Brazil from October 2004 to March 2012, in which both quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied. All donors were considered suitable for cord blood collection. RESULTSThe maternal and neonatal characteristics and techniques of collection that influenced the total number of nucleated cells (TNCsp<0.001) were type of delivery, newborn weight and sex, and institution of UCB collection. The TNC count was associated with gestational age (p=0.008), type of delivery (p<0.001), newborn sex (p<0.001), newborn weight (p<0.001), and UCB collection technique (p=0.003). Center B presented the largest number of nucleated cells in its results (p<0.001), followed by Center A (p=0.001). Other characteristics, such as maternal age, were analyzed but were not relevant for the nucleated cell number. CONCLUSIONThis study provides elements for a model that allows an efficient selection of UCB donors, prioritizing candidates who have a better chance to lead to an optimized use of cord blood cells units.Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Enfermagem, Sao Paulo, BrazilInst Nacl Cardiol, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilInst Israelita Ensino & Pesquisa Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Dept Hemoterapia, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Enfermagem, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Uso do canabidiol para o tratamento de pacientes com eplepsia resistente a tratamento: revisão sistemática / Use of cannabidiol for the treatment of patients with treatment-resistant eplepsy: a systematic review

Introdução: O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre o canabidiol para analisar as evidências experimentais de seus efeitos em pacientes com epilepsia refratária. Para a pesquisa contamos com o auxílio da ferramenta de pesquisa Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) e BVS/Bireme (Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde) www.Bvsalud.org onde foram selecionados artigos científicos publicados em inglês entre os anos de 2007 e 2021. A coleta eletrônica na base de dados BVS/Bireme (Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde) foi realizada utilizando os seguintes descritores: cannabidiol AND epilepsy AND (fulltext:("1") AND db:("MEDLINE" OR "LILACS") AND mj:("Cannabidiol" OR "Anticonvulsants" OR "Epilepsy" OR "Drug Resistant Epilepsy") AND type_of_study: ("clinical_trials") AND la:("en")) AND (year_cluster:[2015 TO 2021]).Os artigos de interesse foram estudos que possuíam texto completo disponíveis na íntegra, gratuito e ensaios clínicos publicados entre 2007 a 2021. Foram excluídos teses, dissertações, monografias, artigos de revisão, estudos com animais ou que disponibilizavam apenas o resumo para consulta, ano da publicação não estabelecido. Dessa forma fora selecionados 15 artigos envolvendo pacientes com epilepsia. Os resultados clínicos sugerem que o canabidiol reduz a frequência das crises e pode ser adequadamente seguro em crianças e adultos jovens com altamente resistente ao tratamento. Os eventos adversos mais frequentes incluíram diarreia, vômito, fadiga, pirexia e sonolência

A importância do teste papanicolau como prevenção do câncer cervical e fatores de riscos relacionados a ausência do exame em gestantes / The importance of the papanicolau test as prevention of cervical cancer and risk factors related to the absence of the examination in pregnant women

Introdução: O exame Papanicolau é realizado para detectar lesões no colo do útero prevenindo o câncer cervical, além disso o exame pode identificar agentes infecciosos que quando não tratadas de forma correta também tem grandes chances de provocar partos prematuros prévio, causando resultados gestacionais adversos tanto para mãe quanto para o feto. A gestação torna-se uma boa oportunidade de realizar o exame, uma vez que durante o pré-natal as gestantes procuram o adequado atendimento médico. Leva-se em conta também que durante a gestação o sistema imunológico da mulher é fisiologicamente suprimido. Deste modo, os níveis de hormônios esteroides aumentam e podem levar a alterações na replicação do HPV.Metodologia: É uma pesquisa de revisão bibliográfica, realizada de forma sistemática, com abordagem qualitativa, quantitativa, descritiva e explicativa.Resultado: O exame citopatológico é essencial para detectar células anormais no colo do útero. O papiloma vírus humano (HPV) é responsável pelo quarto tipo de câncer com mais morbidade do mundo. O exame citopatológico faz parte dos exames do pré-natal e está incluído nos exames complementares. A realização do exame no período gestacional diminuiria drasticamente o número de óbitos por esta doença, visto que durante o período gestacional as mulheres apresentam maiores probabilidades de serem diagnosticas com lesões iniciais em uma proporção três vezes maiores do que em não gestantes.Conclusão: Com base nas literaturas revisadas o exame Papanicolau é essencial para detectar alterações nas células do colo do útero, uma ação importante que deve ser realizado ao longo da vida da mulher. A gestação é uma oportunidade para a realização desse exame. É necessário que a informação sobre a importância do exame seja realizada de forma clara e didática, para que incentive as pacientes à sua realização para que, desta forma, possa diminuir a grande taxa de morbidade e evite complicações decorrentes das possíveis alterações que possam afetar negativamente a saúde da gestante e do feto.

Revisão sistemática sobre nanopartículas carreadoras de fármacos: lipossomos, uma ferramenta em ascensão no tratamento do câncer de mama / Systematic review on drug carrier nanoparticles: liposomes, an ascending tool in the treatment of breast cancer

A presente pesquisa objetiva descrever os benefícios da utilização dos lipossomas no tratamento do câncer de mama. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, qualitativa/qualitativa, realizada entre os meses de janeiro a Abril 2021, nas bases de dados da Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Literatura Internacional em Ciências da Saúde (PUBMED), na Biblioteca Eletrônica Científica Online (Scielo) e PUBMED/MEDLINE dados bibliográficos da Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina dos Estados Unidos da América. As pesquisas nas fontes acima possibilitarão a busca por estudos publicados no cenário nacional e internacional, a partir da inclusão de artigos científicos disponíveis na íntegra, em livre acesso, publicados no período entre 2016 a 2020. Os idiomas pesquisados são português, inglês e espanhol. O interesse são aqueles aqueles que, após leitura do título e resumo, abordassem aspectos relacionados à temática do estudo, demonstrando a atuação dos lipossomas na diminuição do processo cancerígeno das mamas. Foram selecionados 21 artigos para subsidiar a revisão de literatura. Destacou-se nesse estudo, a importância do uso da nanotecnologia para o tratamento eficaz dos diferentes tipos de câncer e nesse contexto os lipossomas podem desenvolver a função de transportar distintos fármacos até a área afetada pelo tumor do câncer de mama. Esse tipo de tratamento, aliado ao diagnóstico precoce, demonstra enorme potencial de eficácia na erradicação tumoral, minimizando risco e efeitos adversos com benefícios efetivos aos pacientes em tratamentos