Incorporating microorganisms into polymer layers provides bioinspired functional living materials

Artificial two-dimensional biological habitats were prepared from porous polymer layers and inoculated with the fungus Penicillium roqueforti to provide a living material. Such composites of classical industrial ingredients and living microorganisms can provide a novel form of functional or smart materials with capability for evolutionary adaptation. This allows realization of most complex responses to environmental stimuli. As a conceptual design, we prepared a material surface with self-cleaning capability when subjected to standardized food spill. Fungal growth and reproduction were observed in between two specifically adapted polymer layers. Gas exchange for breathing and transport of nutrient through a nano-porous top layer allowed selective intake of food whilst limiting the microorganism to dwell exclusively in between a confined, well-enclosed area of the material. We demonstrated a design of such living materials and showed both active (eating) and waiting (dormant, hibernation) states with additional recovery for reinitiation of a new active state by observing the metabolic activity over two full nutrition cycles of the living material (active, hibernation, reactivation). This novel class of living materials can be expected to provide nonclassical solutions in consumer goods such as packaging, indoor surfaces, and in biotechnology

Avaliação do efeito de sopas desidratadas ricas em fibras na redução do colesteroal sangüíneo em ratos Evaluation of the cholesterol-lowering efect of high-fiber dehydrated soup in rats

Neste estudo foi avaliado o efeito de quatro formulações dietéticas ricas em fibra solúvel na redução de colesterol sangüíneo em ratos. As formulações foram preparadas com farinha de soja desengordurada, farelo de aveia, cebola desidratada, fibra de soja, condimentos e aromas. Duas das formulações continham feijão preto FP(+) e FP(-), nos níveis de 40 e 30%, respectivamente. As outras duas continham feijão vermelho FV(+) e FV(-), nesses mesmos teores. Foram utilizados seis grupos de oito ratos machos, com peso médio inicial de 200g. O grupo Padrão recebeu dieta basal. O grupo Controle recebeu dieta de composição semelhante à Padrão, porém, acrescida de 1% de colesterol cristalino e 0,1% de ácido cólico. As demais dietas foram semelhantes ao grupo Controle, substituídas pelas formulações FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) e FP(-), de modo a fornecerem 7,4% de fibra total da dieta. Ratos alimentados com dieta do grupo Controle apresentaram aumento significativo dos níveis de colesterol sérico, peso dos fígados, colesterol e lipídio total das fezes e dos fígados, em relação ao grupo recebendo dieta Padrão. As dietas FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) e FP(-), não diferiram entre si quanto ao efeito nos níveis de lipídios séricos e glicose, no peso e lipídio total dos fígados e no peso, umidade e nitrogênio das fezes. No entanto, reduziram significativamente os níveis sangüíneos de colesterol total em 29,0%, os níveis de HDL - colesterol em 34,0%, o peso dos fígados em 11,7% e o colesterol do fígado em 9,0% em relação à dieta Controle. As dietas de feijão vermelho proporcionaram maior redução de colesterol no fígado e maior excreção de lipídio e colesterol nas fezes comparadas com as de feijão preto.<br>The effect of 4 high fiber dietary formulas on reducing blood cholesterol levels in rats was evaluated in the present study. The products were formulated with defatted soy flour, oat bran, dehydrated onion, soy fiber and spices. Two of them contained black beans, FP(+) or FP(-), at 40 or 30%, respectively. The other two contained red beans, FV(+) or FV(-), at the same levels. Six groups of 8 male rats, with initial body weight of about 200g, were used. The Standard group received a basal diet. The Control group received a similar diet, but it was added 1% of cholesterol and 0.1% of cholic acid. The other diets were similar to the Control one, substituted for the formulas FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) and FP(-) to provide 7.4% of total dietary fiber. Rats fed on Control diet showed a significant increase in their blood cholesterol levels, liver weight and fecal and liver cholesterol and total lipid, in relation to the Standard group. There was no significant difference among the diets FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) and FP(-) in terms of blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose, liver weight, liver total lipids, fecal weight and moisture and the output of nitrogen. All the formulas reduced blood cholesterol levels by 29%, HDL-cholesterol by 34%, liver weigth by 11.7% and liver cholesterol by 9%, in comparison with the Control diet. The diets containing red beans showed higher reductions of cholesterol in the rat liver and higheroutput of total lipids and cholesterol than the black bean diets

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase&nbsp;1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation&nbsp;disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age&nbsp; 6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score&nbsp; 652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc&nbsp;= 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N&nbsp;= 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in&nbsp;Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701