Optimisation of antioxidants extraction from soybeans fermented by Aspergillus oryzae

4 figuras, 7 tablasThe extraction of antioxidant compounds from soybeansfermented with Aspergillusoryzae was optimised using a factorial design. A kinetic study of the total phenolic production and DPPH radical scavenging activity was first performed at the points selected in the factorial design. In both cases, the experimental profiles were fitted to a modified first-order kinetic model. To investigate the combined effects of temperature and solvent concentration on the extraction, the parameters obtained from the fitted kinetic models were used as response variables in a rotatable second-order design with quintuple replications in the centre of the experimental domain. The results obtained indicate that temperature had the most significant effect. The response surfaces show a maximum in the experimental domain studied. The optimum conditions for the extraction of total phenolic content were 65.3 °C and 73.1% ethanol, in which 56.2 mg of GAE/g were predicted. A scavenging activity of 81.6% DPPH radical was predicted at the optimum conditions of 61.6 °C and 60% ethanolDrs. Pablo Fuciños and José Antonio Vázquez has been awarded a postdoctoral grant (Programa de bolsas para estadías fóra de Galicia, 2007 and 2008 respectively) by the Dirección Xeral de Investigación, Desenvolvemento e Innovación, Xunta de Galicia, Spain.Peer reviewe

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Is a Predictor of Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily related to inflammation and macrophage activation. Serum concentrations of GDF-15 can predict poor survival in chronic diseases, but its role in sepsis is obscure. Therefore, we investigated GDF-15 as a prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients. We measured GDF-15 levels in 219 critically ill patients (146 with sepsis, 73 without sepsis) upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), in comparison to 66 healthy controls. GDF-15 levels were significantly increased in ICU patients compared to controls. GDF-15 was further increased in sepsis and showed a strong association with organ dysfunction (kidney, liver and lactate) and disease severity (APACHE II and SOFA score). High GDF-15 concentrations at admission independently predicted ICU (HR 3.42; 95% CI 1.33–8.78) and overall mortality (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.02–3.88) in all ICU critically ill patients as well as in a large subgroup of sepsis patients (ICU mortality: HR 3.16; 95% CI 1.10–9.07; overall mortality: HR 2.62; 95% CI 1.14–6.02). Collectively, serum GDF-15 levels are significantly increased in critically ill patients, associated with sepsis, organ failure, and disease severity. High GDF-15 levels at ICU admission predict short- and long-term mortality risk

Regulation and Prognostic Relevance of Symmetric Dimethylarginine Serum Concentrations in Critical Illness and Sepsis

In systemic inflammation and sepsis, endothelial activation and microvascular dysfunction are characteristic features that promote multiorgan failure. As symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) impacts vascular tension and integrity via modulating nitric oxide (NO) pathways, we investigated circulating SDMA in critical illness and sepsis. 247 critically ill patients (160 with sepsis, 87 without sepsis) were studied prospectively upon admission to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and on day 7, in comparison to 84 healthy controls. SDMA serum levels were significantly elevated in critically ill patients at admission to ICU compared to controls and remained stably elevated during the first week of ICU treatment. The highest SDMA levels were found in patients with sepsis. SDMA levels closely correlated with disease severity scores, biomarkers of inflammation, and organ failure (renal, hepatic, and circulatory). We identified SDMA serum concentrations at admission as an independent prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients not only for short-term mortality at the ICU but also for unfavourable long-term survival. Thus, the significant increase of circulating SDMA in critically ill patients indicates a potential pathogenic involvement in endothelial dysfunction during sepsis and may be useful for mortality risk stratification at the ICU

Diagnostik und Therapie von Clostridium-difficile-Infektionen auf deutschen Intensivstationen: eine Umfrage unter Intensivmedizinern

Zusammenfassung Einleitung Die Clostridium-difficile-assoziierte Kolitis ist eine häufige nosokomiale Durchfallerkrankung auf Intensivstationen mit relevantem Einfluss auf die Prognose kritisch kranker Patienten. In der Intensivmedizin gibt es derzeit kaum kontrollierte Studien zum rationalen Einsatz der verfügbaren Therapieoptionen oder zur Adhärenz gegenüber Leitlinienempfehlungen. Methode Im Auftrag der AG Gastroenterologische Intensivmedizin der DGVS haben wir eine Online-basierte Befragung von Führungskräften deutscher Intensivstationen durchgeführt, um das aktuelle Management der Clostridium-difficile-Infektion auf Intensivstationen zu erfassen. Ergebnis Die Erhebung erzielte einen Rücklauf von 24,2 % (85/351), überwiegend von (leitenden) Oberärzten/innen aus Krankenhäusern verschiedener Versorgungsstufen. Während für die Diagnostik größtenteils (79,3 %) Standards entsprechend der Leitlinien existierten (Toxinnachweis im Stuhl, ggfs. GDH-Screening und Endoskopie), gab es unterschiedliche therapeutische Strategien. Als Erstlinienbehandlung der Clostridium-difficile-Infektion auf der Intensivstation nannten 48,3 % orales Vancomycin, 34,5 % orales Metronidazol; der Therapieerfolg der Erstlinientherapie wurde mit 67 % für primäres Ansprechen, 15 % für persistierende Kolitis, 5 % für Sepsis oder Megakolon, 10 % für Rezidiv und 3 % für Tod abgeschätzt. Krankenhäuser der Grund-/Spezial- und Maximalversorgung setzten häufiger Metronidazol ein als Universitätskliniken. Die Standardbehandlung des Rezidivs bestand überwiegend aus Vancomycin oral (40 % allein, 29,1 % plus Metronidazol), seltener aus Fidaxomicin (25,5 %). Fidaxomicin wurde von 79 % der Befragten bereits mindestens einmal auf der Intensivstation eingesetzt, meist bei schwerem Krankheitsverlauf oder Rezidiv(risiko). Der fäkale Mikrobiomtransfer („Stuhltransplantation“) wurde von 11 % der Befragten bereits auf der Intensivstation in Einzelfällen eingesetzt. Diskussion Die Umfrage unter Führungskräften deutscher Intensivstationen zeigt damit insgesamt eine hohe Sensibilisierung für die Clostridium-difficile-assoziierte Kolitis, allerdings auch deutliche Unterschiede in den lokalen Behandlungsstandards, insbesondere in der Erstlinientherapie.</jats:p

Visfatin Serum Levels Predict Mortality in Critically Ill Patients

The adipokine visfatin, also termed pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is mainly derived from adipose tissue but has been implicated in the regulation of innate immune responses. We hypothesized that visfatin could be a potential circulating biomarker in critical illness and sepsis. We therefore measured serum levels of visfatin in a cohort of 229 critically ill medical patients upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In comparison to 53 healthy controls, visfatin levels were significantly elevated in medical ICU patients, especially in patients with sepsis. Visfatin serum concentrations were strongly associated with disease severity and organ failure but did not differ between patients with or without obesity or type 2 diabetes. Visfatin levels correlated with biomarkers of renal failure, liver dysfunction, and other adipokines (e.g., resistin, leptin, and adiponectin) in critically ill patients. High visfatin levels at ICU admission indicated an increased mortality, both at the ICU and during long-term follow-up of approximately two years. Our data therefore demonstrate that circulating visfatin is a valuable biomarker for risk and prognosis assessment in critically ill patients. Furthermore, visfatin seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of excessive systemic inflammation, supporting further research on visfatin as a therapeutic target

High Circulating Caspase-Cleaved Keratin 18 Fragments (M30) Indicate Short-Term Mortality in Critically Ill Patients

Caspase-cleaved fragments of the intermediate filament protein keratin 18 (cytokeratin-18 (CK18)) can be detected in serum as M30 levels and may serve as a circulating biomarker indicating apoptosis of epithelial and parenchymal cells. In order to evaluate M30 as a biomarker in critical illness, we analyzed circulating M30 levels in 243 critically ill patients (156 with sepsis, 87 without sepsis) at admission to the medical intensive care unit (ICU), in comparison to healthy controls (n = 32). M30 levels were significantly elevated in ICU patients compared with healthy controls. Circulating M30 was closely associated with disease severity but did not differ between patients with sepsis and ICU patients without sepsis. M30 serum levels were correlated with biomarkers of inflammation, cell injury, renal failure, and liver failure in critically ill patients. Patients that died at the ICU showed increased M30 levels at admission, compared with surviving patients. A similar trend was observed for the overall survival. Regression analyses confirmed that M30 levels are associated with mortality, and patients with M30 levels above 250.8 U/L displayed an excessive short-term mortality. Thus, our data support the utility of circulating levels of the apoptosis-related keratin fragment M30 as a prognostic biomarker at ICU admission