Relevant Attributes Influencing Consumers’ Tomato Acceptance: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

During the last two decades several studies were developed to understand the attributes able to affect consumer vegetable choice over the world. Focusing on fresh and processed tomato product, this study proposes a systematic literature review to systematize and critically apprise the current body of knowledge in this research field. In order to discover suggestions useful to enhance market strategies and policies about vegetable intake, the discovered tomato attributes were categorized, according the Search Experience and Credence logic, into: price, product features, packaging, convenience, brand, sensory properties, sustainability, origin, safety and health, production processes. By synthesizing the review findings, a multi-dimensional integrative content framework was conceived with the aim to maps the extant literature with multiple levels of analysis: antecedent, phenomenon and consequences. As part of the review, a future research agenda, theoretical and practical implications were discussed

Assuring Effectiveness in Consumer-Oriented Traceability Suggestions for Food Label Design

Traceability is an important tool used by food companies and regulators in assuring food safety and quality, especially when consumers' needs for food information transparency are the driver. Consumers consult the label to find out more details about a food product and, although many factors influence their perceptions and purchasing acts, the label remains the primary means of communicating food information affecting consumer choice. Therefore, it represents the final step in a consumer-oriented traceability path. It follows that a suitable label design can improve the food traceability process and reduce the information asymmetry between producer and consumer. According to this view, this paper aimed to identify suggestions about food label design, in order to create a support framework for food companies in food information communication increasing label readability, customer satisfaction, and the effectiveness of traceability. A systematic literature review method with content analysis was chosen to conduct the study. Eleven specific suggestions from food labeling design theories were recognized. The novelty of the present study consisted in mapping the food label design field, synthesizing the current knowledge, and providing a support framework for food companies that would increase the readability of food labeling and enhance customer satisfaction through a well-proposed food information communication in line with the "farm to fork" strategy

EDITORIAL

Mediação, Pires do Rio - GO, v. 14, n. 1, jan.-jun. 2019

O ENSINO DA DIVERSIDADE DE GÊNERO NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL

Tendo como referência o conceito sexo/gênero de Rubin (2017), o presente artigo tem com objetivo elaborar procedimentos didáticos para a educação infantil com base nas compreensões teóricas e metodológicas sobre diversidade de gênero. Para isto em um primeiro momento será apresentado o debate histórico sobre o conceito de gênero e sua articulação social como padrão para os indivíduos com base no sexo biológico. Na sequência serão discutidos os argumentos teóricos sobre Educação para a diversidade de Gênero e o seu debate nas orientações para a educação infantil contidas no documento final da Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC). Em um terceiro momento através de uma busca na Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD) com o descritor “diversidade de gênero” será possível verificar as contribuições da temática no campo da pesquisa e de propostas metodológicas para a educação. A partir de tais contribuições teóricas será possível articular as orientações didáticas sobre gênero para a educação infantil com jogos que problematizem as relações cotidianas como brincadeiras, cores, atividades, entre outras. &nbsp

Is the natural feed the better nutritional therapy in patients with severe acquired brain injury? A retrospective study

SUMMARY: Background: This retrospective study aimed to assess whether the use of natural foods, also in combination with enteral nutrition, improves rehabilitative recovery in patients severe acquired brain injuries. Methods: 40 severe acquired brain injuries patients (75% males, aged 50.2 ± 16.6) were selected. The study population was divided into three groups based on the type of nutrition administered (enteral, oral, and mixed). Mini Nutritional Assessment and Level of Cognitive Functioning scales were used to assess changes from admission to discharge in each group. Multiple logistic regression model was performed to assess the association between the feeding typology and nutritional recovery. Results: At admission, about 97.5% of patients were malnourished. We found significant score changes from baseline to follow-up for both test used and in each subgroup, except for the subgroup that includes patients fed with enteral nutrition. There were significant differences in biochemical indicators, including levels of albumin (p < 0.01) and protein (p < 0.001), compared to baseline and follow-up. Oral nutrition resulted to be a significant predictor for nutritional improvement. Conclusions: Nutrition therapy within a multi-disciplinary team may improve both the hospital care and the recovery in severe acquired brain injuries population. Notably, our findings suggest that natural nutrition is superior to enteral nutrition in improving nutritional outcomes, which should be confirmed by further studies

Interleukin-21 induces the differentiation of human umbilical cord blood CD34-lineage- cells into pseudomature lytic NK cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is enriched with transplantable CD34⁺cells. In addition to CD34-expressing haematopoietic stem cells (HSC), human UCB contains a rare population of CD34^-lineage^-cells endowed with the ability to differentiate along the T/NK pathway in response to interleukin (IL)-15 and a stromal cell support. IL-21 is a crucial regulator of NK cell function, whose influence on IL-15-induced differentiation of CD34^-lineage^-cells has not been investigated previously. The present study was designed and conducted to address whether IL-21 might replace the stromal cell requirements and foster the IL-15-induced NK differentiation of human UCB CD34^-lineage^-cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CD34^-lineage^-cells were maintained in liquid culture with Flt3-L and SCF, with the addition of IL-15 and IL-21, either alone or in combination. Cultures were established in the absence of feeder cells or serum supplementation. Cytokine-treated cells were used to evaluate cell surface phenotype, expression of molecular determinants of lymphoid/NK cell differentiation, secretion of IFN-γ, GM-CSF, TNF-α and CCL3/MIP-1α, and cytolytic activity against NK-sensitive tumour cell targets. CD34^-lineage^-cells proliferated vigorously in response to IL-15 and IL-21 but not to IL-21 alone, and up-regulated phosphorylated Stat1 and Stat3 proteins. CD34^-lineage^-cells expanded by IL-21 in combination with IL-15 acquired lymphoid morphology and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)^-CD56⁺CD16^-/+phenotype, consistent with pseudo-mature NK cells. IL-21/IL-15-differentiated cells expressed high levels of mRNA for Bcl-2, GATA-3 and Id2, a master switch required for NK-cell development, and harboured un-rearranged TCRγ genes. From a functional standpoint, IL-21/IL-15-treated cells secreted copious amounts of IFN-γ, GM-CSF and CCL3/MIP-1α, and expressed cell surface CD107a upon contact with NK-sensitive tumour targets, a measure of exocytosis of NK secretory granules.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study underpins a novel role for IL-21 in the differentiation of pseudo-mature lytic NK cells in a synergistic context with IL-15, and identifies a potential strategy to expand functional NK cells for immunotherapy.</p

Diversity of Epichloë in native grasses from Uruguay

Studies on endophyte diversity have allowed to describe at least 43 taxa that belong to the genus Epichloë,including distinct species, subspecies, and varieties[1]. Screenings for grasses associated with Epichloë arecontinuously being done worldwide due to the agronomically important beneficial effects they provide to theirhosts. In spite of this, Epichloë presence and diversity in South America has been poorly studied, with most worksfocused in Argentina, although preliminary studies revealed the presence of Epichloë in grasses from Uruguay. Ourobjective was to assess the diversity of Epichloë associated with native grasses from Uruguay, South America.We sampled native grasses from Uruguay and inspected under microscope for typical Epichloë mycelia theparenchymal tissue from within the culm pith or sheaths stained with aniline blue[2]. Fragments of leaves and culmsof endophyte-infected plants were surface-sterilized and plated in Potatoe Dextrose Agar to isolate Epichloë.Subsequently, we obtained single spore cultures for morphological and molecular characterization by phylogeniesof calM gene and detection by PCR multiplex of alkaloid genes[3, 4].Specimens of Bromus auleticus, Bromus brachyanthera, Calamagrostis alba, Festuca fimbriata, Poalanigera and Polypogon elongatus were detected associated with Epichloë. Morphological differences in colony andmicroscopic characteristics were observed among isolates from different host species, but also among isolates fromthe same host species (B. auleticus and P. lanigera). Phylogenetic analyzes based on calmodulin gene (calM)sequences allowed us to infer at least 5 interspecific hybrid lineages. The E. typhina x E. festucae hybrid, Epichloëtembladerae, was detected in all of the studied hosts except in F. fimbriata. Some isolates from B. auleticus and F.fimbriata were also hybrids between E. typhina and E. festucae but clustered in different clades with endophytes ofthese hosts from Argentina, different from any previously described species. A hybrid isolate (E. baconii x E.typhina) was detected in B. auleticus. One isolate from Bromus auleticus presented three copies of calM indicatinga triple hybrid origin (E. festucae x E. typhina x E. elymi) and grouped in a clade that also included isolates fromArgentina. Alkaloid gene profiling indicated that all of the endophytes have perA gene. The endophytes from F.fimbriata and the triple hybrid were dmaW positive. LolC gene was only detected in some endophytes from B.auleticus. Indole di-terpene gene profiling allowed us to detect variability among isolates considered as E.tembladerae, and only some endophytes of B. auleticus were negative for the screened idt genes.These results suggest a great diversity of endophytes in Uruguay and, although most of the endophyteshave been also detected in Argentina, some lineages seem to be endemic to Uruguay. Taking into account thediversity of grasses in this country and that we only studied a small amount of isolates of each host, it is likely thatmore hosts and endophytes will be discovered in Uruguay.Fil: Mc Cargo, Patricia Débora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Olivero, Laura Maria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Corallo, Ana B.. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Ingeniería; UruguayFil: Lupo, Sandra. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Ingeniería; UruguayFil: Novas, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Iannone, Leopoldo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina10th International Symposium on Fungal Endophytes of GrassesSalamancaEspañaInstitute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanc

Effects of pegylated G-CSF on immune cell number and function in patients with gynecological malignancies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; pegfilgrastim) is a longer-acting form of G-CSF, whose effects on dendritic cell (DC) and regulatory T cell (Treg) mobilization, and on the <it>in vivo </it>and ex vivo release of immune modulating cytokines remain unexplored.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve patients with gynecological cancers received carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and single-dose pegfilgrastim as prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia. Peripheral blood was collected prior to pegfilgrastim administration (day 0) and on days +7, +11 and +21, to quantify immunoregulatory cytokines and to assess type 1 DC (DC1), type 2 DC (DC2) and Treg cell mobilization. <it>In vitro</it>-differentiated, monocyte-derived DC were used to investigate endocytic activity, expression of DC maturation antigens and ability to activate allogeneic T-cell proliferation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pegfilgrastim increased the frequency of circulating DC1 and DC2 precursors. In contrast, CD4⁺FoxP3⁺<it>bona fide </it>Treg cells were unchanged compared with baseline. Serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin (IL)-12p40, but not transforming growth factor-β1 or immune suppressive kynurenines, significantly increased after pegfilgrastim administration. Interestingly, pegfilgrastim fostered <it>in vitro</it> monocytic<it/> secretion of IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 when compared with unconjugated G-CSF. Finally, DC populations differentiated <it>in vitro </it>after clinical provision of pegfilgrastim were phenotypically mature, possessed low endocytic activity, and incited a robust T-cell proliferative response.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pegfilgrastim induced significant changes in immune cell number and function. The enhancement of monocytic IL-12 secretion portends favorable implications for pegfilgrastim administration to patients with cancer, a clinical context where the induction of immune deviation would be highly undesirable.</p

Thymoglobulin, interferon-γ and interleukin-2 efficiently expand cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells in clinical-grade cultures

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are typically differentiated <it>in vitro </it>with interferon (IFN)-γ and αCD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), followed by the repeated provision of interleukin (IL)-2. It is presently unknown whether thymoglobulin (TG), a preparation of polyclonal rabbit γ immunoglobulins directed against human thymocytes, can improve the generation efficiency of CIK cells compared with αCD3 mAb in a clinical-grade culture protocol.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 10 healthy donors and 4 patients with solid cancer were primed with IFN-γ on day 0 and low (50 ng/ml), intermediate (250 ng/ml) and high (500 ng/ml) concentrations of either αCD3 mAb or TG on day 1, and were fed with IL-2 every 3 days for 21 days. Aliquots of cells were harvested weekly to monitor the expression of representative members of the killer-like immunoglobulin receptor (KIR), NK inhibitory receptor, NK activating receptor and NK triggering receptor families. We also quantified the frequency of <it>bona fide </it>regulatory T cells (Treg), a T-cell subset implicated in the down-regulation of anti-tumor immunity, and tested the <it>in vitro </it>cytotoxic activity of CIK cells against NK-sensitive, chronic myeloid leukaemia K562 cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CIK cells expanded more vigorously in cultures supplemented with intermediate and high concentrations of TG compared with 50 ng/ml αCD3 mAb. TG-driven CIK cells expressed a constellation of NK activating/inhibitory receptors, such as CD158a and CD158b, NKp46, NKG2D and NKG2A/CD94, released high quantities of IL-12p40 and efficiently lysed K562 target cells. Of interest, the frequency of Treg cells was lower at any time-point compared with PBMC cultures nurtured with αCD3 mAb. Cancer patient-derived CIK cells were also expanded after priming with TG, but they expressed lower levels of the NKp46 triggering receptor and NKG2D activating receptor, thus manifesting a reduced ability to lyse K562 cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>TG fosters the generation of functional CIK cells with no concomitant expansion of tumor-suppressive Treg cells. The culture conditions described herein should be applicable to cancer-bearing individuals, although the differentiation of fully functional CIK cells may be hindered in patients with advanced malignancies.</p