Antimicrobial properties of rosin acids-loaded nanoparticles against antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens

Rosin acids (RA) from coniferous trees are used in folk medicine for healing various skin infections. Despite the antimicrobial potential of RA, their poor solubility in aqueous media may limit their use. In this work RA-loaded polyethylene glycol-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (RA-NPs) with enhanced antimicrobial properties against foodborne bacterial pathogens were produced. RA-NPs were prepared by solvent displacement technique and characterized for relevant colloidal features by dynamic light scattering, laser Doppler anemometry and transmission electron microscopy. Association of RA to NPs occurred with high yields (86% w/w). RA and RA-NPs (~130 nm) were strongly active against antibiotic-sensitive Gram + pathogens, i.e. Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, both failed in inhibiting the growth of Gram – pathogens (Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica). Association to NPs enhanced the antimicrobial activity of RA. MIC, IC 50 , IC 90 , and MBC values of RA-NPs were ten-times lower than RA. RA-NPs did not change the intrinsic toxicity potential of RA. This is the first study on the enhancement of the antimicrobial activity of RA when associated to nanocarriers. This approach may be an effective strategy to produce aqueous-based RA solutions with enhanced antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant Gram + pathogens.The authors thank Prof. Filip Van Immerseel for providing the C. perfringens CP56 strains and ADRIA d_eveloppement for providing the strains indicated with the letters AD in this study. The authors also thank NFT S.r.l. for providing purified rosinic acids, and the i3S Scientific Platform Biointerfaces and Nanotechnology (BN) for assistance in DLS/LDAmeasurements

Randomized trial on the effects of a combined physical/cognitive training in aged MCI subjects: the Train the Brain study

Age-related cognitive impairment and dementia are an increasing societal burden. Epidemiological studies indicate that lifestyle factors, e.g. physical, cognitive and social activities, correlate with reduced dementia risk; moreover, positive effects on cognition of physical/cognitive training have been found in cognitively unimpaired elders. Less is known about effectiveness and action mechanisms of physical/cognitive training in elders already suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a population at high risk for dementia. We assessed in 113 MCI subjects aged 65-89 years, the efficacy of combined physical-cognitive training on cognitive decline, Gray Matter (GM) volume loss and Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) in hippocampus and parahippocampal areas, and on brain-blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) activity elicited by a cognitive task, measured by ADAS-Cog scale, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) and fMRI, respectively, before and after 7 months of training vs. usual life. Cognitive status significantly decreased in MCI-no training and significantly increased in MCI-training subjects; training increased parahippocampal CBF, but no effect on GM volume loss was evident; BOLD activity increase, indicative of neural efficiency decline, was found only in MCI-no training subjects. These results show that a non pharmacological, multicomponent intervention improves cognitive status and indicators of brain health in MCI subjects

Mobilise-D insights to estimate real-world walking speed in multiple conditions with a wearable device

This study aimed to validate a wearable device’s walking speed estimation pipeline, considering complexity, speed, and walking bout duration. The goal was to provide recommendations on the use of wearable devices for real-world mobility analysis. Participants with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Proximal Femoral Fracture, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, and healthy older adults (n = 97) were monitored in the laboratory and the real-world (2.5 h), using a lower back wearable device. Two walking speed estimation pipelines were validated across 4408/1298 (2.5 h/laboratory) detected walking bouts, compared to 4620/1365 bouts detected by a multi-sensor reference system. In the laboratory, the mean absolute error (MAE) and mean relative error (MRE) for walking speed estimation ranged from 0.06 to 0.12 m/s and − 2.1 to 14.4%, with ICCs (Intraclass correlation coefficients) between good (0.79) and excellent (0.91). Real-world MAE ranged from 0.09 to 0.13, MARE from 1.3 to 22.7%, with ICCs indicating moderate (0.57) to good (0.88) agreement. Lower errors were observed for cohorts without major gait impairments, less complex tasks, and longer walking bouts. The analytical pipelines demonstrated moderate to good accuracy in estimating walking speed. Accuracy depended on confounding factors, emphasizing the need for robust technical validation before clinical application. Trial registration: ISRCTN – 12246987

Antimicrobial properties of rosin acids-loaded nanoparticles against antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens

Rosin acids (RA) from coniferous trees are used in folk medicine for healing various skin infections. Despite the antimicrobial potential of RA, their poor solubility in aqueous media may limit their use. In this work RA-loaded polyethylene glycol-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (RA-NPs) with enhanced antimicrobial properties against foodborne bacterial pathogens were produced. RA-NPs were prepared by solvent displacement technique and characterized for relevant colloidal features by dynamic light scattering, laser Doppler anemometry and transmission electron microscopy. Association of RA to NPs occurred with high yields (86% w/w). RA and RA-NPs (~130 nm) were strongly active against antibiotic-sensitive Gram + pathogens, i.e. Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, both failed in inhibiting the growth of Gram – pathogens (Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica). Association to NPs enhanced the antimicrobial activity of RA. MIC, IC 50 , IC 90 , and MBC values of RA-NPs were ten-times lower than RA. RA-NPs did not change the intrinsic toxicity potential of RA. This is the first study on the enhancement of the antimicrobial activity of RA when associated to nanocarriers. This approach may be an effective strategy to produce aqueous-based RA solutions with enhanced antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant Gram + pathogens.The authors thank Prof. Filip Van Immerseel for providing the C. perfringens CP56 strains and ADRIA d_eveloppement for providing the strains indicated with the letters AD in this study. The authors also thank NFT S.r.l. for providing purified rosinic acids, and the i3S Scientific Platform Biointerfaces and Nanotechnology (BN) for assistance in DLS/LDAmeasurements

Right heart function in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by three-dimensional echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography

Purpose. It is known that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) can affect right ventricular (RV) performance even in the absence of systemic hypertension and other known cardiac or obstructive pulmonary disease. We assessed changes in ventricular parameters determined by three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and speckle tracking imaging (STI) before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. Methods. We recruited 31 patients with OSAS and 31 healthy subjects without signs of cardiopulmonary dysfunction. OSAS was defined as apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 events per hour. Twelve patients with severe OSAS (AHI≥30) underwent chronic nocturnal nasal CPAP therapy. RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were measured from three-dimensional echocardiographic datasets and right ventricular ejection fraction (3D-RVEF) was calculated. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure was obtained by standard Doppler methods. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as a pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 40 mmHg or greater. To assess regional and global RV systolic function in the longitudinal direction using STI, we adopted a 6-segment RV model (basal RV lateral wall, mid RV lateral wall, apical RV wall, apical septum, mid septum, and basal septum). RV peak systolic strain and time to peak-systolic strain from the onset of QRS were recorded for the 6 RV myocardial segments and for the entire RV myocardium (EchoPAC BT09, GE Ultrasound). Global longitudinal strain was calculated by averaging local strains along the entire right ventricle using machine software. RV dyssynchrony (RV-SD6) was defined as the standard deviation of the six time to peak systolic strain values. Results. 3D-RVEF was lower in patients with OSAS and pulmonary hypertension compared to the control group (p<0.001) and compared to patients with OSAS and normal pulmonary pressure (p<0.05). A significant correlation was found between RV-SD6 and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (r = 0.74, p <0.005) and between RV-SD6 and AHI (r = 0.77, p <0.001). The group treated with CPAP had a significant decrease in pulmonary artery systolic pressure, total pulmonary vascular resistance and RV-SD6 as well as significant increase in 3D-RVEF. By multivariate analysis, RV-SD6 (p=0.006) and 3D-RVEF (p=0.03) were predictive of AHI

Assessment of early myocardial deformation changes in dyslipidemic children by three-dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging

Background. Dyslipidemia is considered a strong risk factor for premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and increased morbidity and mortality and may have an adverse effect on left ventricular (LV) performance. Three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) provides information regarding different echocardiographic parameters of LV myocardial deformation. Purpose. Our aim was to assess the presence of early myocardial deformation abnormalities in nonselected dyslipidemic children free from other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. Twenty-four consecutive nonselected hypercholesterolemic children (TC above the 95th percentile for age and gender, mean age 11.3 ± 2.16 years) and 24 healthy age-matched children were enrolled. None of them had any other cardiovascular risk factors. Obesity (body mass index >75th percentile for age and gender) as well as other diseases were excluded. Every subject underwent 2D- and 3D-STI. Volumes were measured from 3D datasets. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global area strain (GAS), and global radial strain (GRS) were computed at end-systole. GAS was calculated as the percentage variation in the surface area defined by the longitudinal and circumferential strain vectors. Data analysis was performed offline (EchoPAC BT11, 4D Auto LVQ, GE). Results. Mean percentage intraobserver variability was 7% for GLS, 9% for GCS, 6% for GAS, and 11% for GRS. Comparison between 2D and 3D GLS showed high correspondence (r = 0.89, y = 1.13x - 0.78). The mean time of analysis was of 149 ± 27 sec for 3D analysis, which was 17% less than for 2D analysis (p<0.05). The following strain values were obtained in hyperlipidemic patients compared to controls: 3D GLS (-14.7±2.5% vs -16.8±2.7%, p <0.005), 3D GCS (-28.1±3.6% vs -29.6±4.2%, p <0.01), 3D GRS (29.6±9.2% vs 30.2±9.7%, p =NS), and 3D GAS (-39.8±3.4% vs -43.2±3.2%, p <0.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the strongest relationship with dyslipidemia was found for LV GAS (β- coefficient= 0.74, r2= 0.61, p= 0.002). Conclusions. Dyslipidemia is associated with myocardial deformation changes independently from any other cardiovascular risk factor or any structural cardiac abnormalities

Development of a diet quality score and adherence to the Swiss dietary recommendations for vegans

Abstract Background Vegan diets have recently gained popularity in Switzerland as well as globally. The aim of the present study was to develop a diet quality score for vegans (DQS-V) based on the Swiss dietary recommendations for vegans. Methods The dataset included 52 healthy vegan adults. Dietary intake data were assessed by three-day weighed food records. Body weight and height were measured, and a venous blood sample for the analysis of vitamin and mineral status was collected. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used due to not-normally distributed data. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis (PCA). Results The DQS-V score (mean ± SD) was 48.9 ± 14.7. Most vegans adhered to the recommended portions of vegetables, vitamin C-rich vegetables, fruits, omega-3-rich nuts, fats and oils, and iodized salt. However, the intake of green leafy vegetables, vitamin C-rich fruits, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds, selenium-rich nuts, zero caloric liquid, and calcium-fortified foods was suboptimal. The sample overconsumed sweet-, salty-, fried foods, and alcohol. The DQS-V had a significantly positive correlation with intakes of fibre, polyunsaturated fatty acids, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus intakes (p’s < 0.05) but was negatively correlated with vitamin B12 and niacin intakes (p’s < 0.05). Two dietary patterns were derived from PCA: 1) refined grains and sweets and 2) wholegrains and nuts. The correlation between the DQS-V and the first dietary pattern was negative (− 0.41, p = 0.004) and positive for the second dietary pattern (0.37, p = 0.01). The refined grains and sweets dietary pattern was inversely correlated with beta-carotene status (− 0.41, p = 0.004) and vitamin C status (r = − 0.51, p = 0.0002). Conclusion The newly developed DQS-V provides a single score for estimating diet quality among vegan adults. Further validation studies examining the DQS-V in relation to an independent dietary assessment method and to biomarkers of nutritional intake and status are still needed before the general application of the DQS-V