Physico-chemical and rheological properties of prato cheese during ripening

The influence of storage temperature (6, 12 and 18°C) on texture parameters of Prato cheese were evaluated during 22 days of ripening. A reduction of firmness, gumminess and elasticity was observed; however, cohesiveness and adhesiveness increased. With the increasing temperature, firmness and gumminess reduced, whereas the elasticity, cohesiveness and adhesiveness did not change. It can be concluded that storage temperature influences the texture profile of Prato cheese which present differences in the evaluated parameters during 22 days of ripening.Keywords: Cheese ripening, hard cheese, colour, texture profile analysis

Influence of PLLA/PCL/HA scaffold fiber orientation on mechanical properties and osteoblast behavior

Scaffolds based on aligned and non-aligned poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers obtained by electrospinning, associated to electrosprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) for tissue engineering applications were developed and their performance was compared in terms of their morphology and biological and mechanical behaviors. The morphological results assessed by scanning electron microscopy showed a mesh of PLLA/PCL fibers (random and perfectly aligned) associated with aggregates of nanophased HA. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry confirmed the homogeneity in the blends and the presence of nanoHA in the scaffold. As a result of fiber alignment a 15-fold increase in Young's Modulus and an 8-fold increase in tensile strength were observed when compared to non-aligned fibers. In PLLA/PCL/HA scaffolds, the introduction of nanoHA caused a remarkable improvement of the mechanical strength of this material acting as a reinforcement, enhancing the response of these constructs to tensile stress. In vitro testing was evaluated using osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cells. The results showed that both fibrous scaffolds were able to support osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation and that fiber alignment induced increased cellular metabolic activity. In addition, the adhesion and proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated and a lower number of colony forming units (CFUs) was obtained in the scaffolds with aligned fibers.Project UID/BIM/04293/2019 by FCT/MCTES through Portuguese Funds

In vitro and in vivo performance of methacrylated gellan gum hydrogel formulations for cartilage repair

Methacrylated gellan gum (GGMA) formulation is proposed as a second‐generation hydrogel for controlled delivery of cartilage‐forming cells into focal chondral lesions, allowing immediate in situ retention of cells and 3D filling of lesion volume, such approach deemed compatible with an arthroscopic procedure. Formulation optimization was carried out in vitro using chondrocytes and adipose mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (ASCs). A proof‐of‐concept in vivo study was conducted using a rabbit model with induced chondral lesions. Outcomes were compared with microfracture or non‐treated control. Three grading scores were used to evaluate tissue repair after 8 weeks by macroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Intense collagen type II and low collagen type I gene and protein expression were achieved in vitro by the ASC + GGMA formulation, in light with development of healthy chondral tissue. In vivo, this formulation promoted significantly superior de novo cartilage formation compared with the non‐treated group. Maintenance of chondral height and integration with native tissue was further accomplished. The physicochemical properties of the proposed GGMA hydrogel exhibited highly favorable characteristics and biological performance both in vitro and in vivo, positioning itself as an attractive xeno‐free biomaterial to be used with chondrogenic cells for a cost‐effective treatment of focal chondral lesions

Organic-resistant screen-printed graphitic electrodes: Application to on-site monitoring of liquid fuels.

This work presents the potential application of organic-resistant screen-printed graphitic electrodes (SPGEs) for fuel analysis. The required analysis of the antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (2,6-DTBP) in biodiesel and jet fuel is demonstrated as a proof-of-concept. The screen-printing of graphite, Ag/AgCl and insulator inks on a polyester substrate (250 μm thickness) resulted in SPGEs highly compatible with liquid fuels. SPGEs were placed on a batch-injection analysis (BIA) cell, which was filled with a hydroethanolic solution containing 99% v/v ethanol and 0.1 mol L(-1) HClO4 (electrolyte). An electronic micropipette was connected to the cell to perform injections (100 μL) of sample or standard solutions. Over 200 injections can be injected continuously without replacing electrolyte and SPGE strip. Amperometric detection (+1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) of 2,6-DTBP provided fast (around 8 s) and precise (RSD = 0.7%, n = 12) determinations using an external calibration curve. The method was applied for the analysis of biodiesel and aviation jet fuel samples and comparable results with liquid and gas chromatographic analyses, typically required for biodiesel and jet fuel samples, were obtained. Hence, these SPGE strips are completely compatible with organic samples and their combination with the BIA cell shows great promise for routine and portable analysis of fuels and other organic liquid samples without requiring sophisticated sample treatments

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes With Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents Five-Year Results of the RAVEL Trial

ObjectivesThis study examined the clinical outcomes at 5 years in RAVEL (A Randomized Comparison of a Sirolimus-Eluting Stent With a Standard Stent for Coronary Revascularization), the first controlled trial of drug-eluting stents.BackgroundThe 6-month rate of angiographic coronary restenosis has been markedly lowered by sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). The long-term performance of drug-eluting stents, however, is under close scrutiny.MethodsThe trial included 238 patients (mean age 60.7 ± 10.4 years, 76% men) with a single, de novo native coronary artery lesion, randomly assigned to treatment with SES versus bare-metal stents (BMS). Rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and percutaneous or surgical revascularization up to 5 years of follow-up, and rates of stent thrombosis were compared between the 2 treatment groups.ResultsComplete datasets were available in 92.5% of patients treated with SES and 89.1% of patients assigned to BMS. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year rates of survival free from target lesion revascularization (TLR) were, respectively, 99.2%, 93.8%, and 89.7% in the SES group versus 75.9%, 75.0%, and 74.0% in the control group (p < 0.001; log-rank). Rates of all MACE at 5 years were 25.8% in patients treated with SES versus 35.2% in patients assigned to BMS (p = 0.03; log-rank). Rates of stent thrombosis, per protocol or by the Academic Research Consortium definitions, were similar in both groups.ConclusionsThe 5-year rate of TLR associated with SES was significantly lower than that with BMS. There was no apparent adverse effect associated with the use of SES, although the trial was not powered to examine uncommon complications

Consumo de antioxidantes por praticantes de atividade física

Introduction. The practice of physical exercises promotes beneficial effects to human health, but when physiological limits are not respected, can cause damage to the body, such as cause increase of production of free radicals. The term antioxidant refers to chemical compounds that reduce the oxidative effects of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids caused by free radicals. Antioxidants have the ability to react with these radicals reducing their harmful effects. Objective: To carry out a bibliographic search on the consumption of antioxidants by physical activity practitioners. Materials and methods: This is an integrative literature review. To search and select the studies, the databases Ebscohost and Scielo and the Google academic search engine totaling 8 articles were published between the years 2015 and 2019. Results and discussion: In all studies analyzed, it was verified that there was inadequacy of the consumption of antioxidant foods by practitioners of various types of physical activity, aerobic and anaerobic, among the vitamins and minerals studied, a predominance of low consumption especially of Vitamins A and C was observed. Conclusion: In the present research it was observed that physical activity practitioners, present inadequate antioxidant intake, it is necessary the adequate intake of these compounds due to the physical stress of the injuries resulting from the practice of sports.Introdução. A prática de exercícios físicos promove efeitos benéficos à saúde humana, porém, quando os limites fisiológicos não são respeitados, pode provocar danos ao organismo, como por exemplo, causar o aumento da produção de radicais livres. O termo antioxidante refere-se a compostos químicos que reduzem os efeitos oxidativos de lipídios, proteínas e ácidos nucleicos causados pelos radicais livres.  Os antioxidantes apresentam capacidade de reagir com estes radicais diminuindo seus efeitos nocivos. Objetivo: Realizar uma busca bibliográfica sobre o consumo de antioxidantes por praticantes de atividade física. Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura do tipo integrativa. Para busca e seleção dos estudos utilizou-se as bases de dados: Ebscohost e Scielo e o buscador Google acadêmico totalizando 8 artigos, publicados entre os anos de 2015 a 2019. Resultados e discussão: Em todos os estudos analisados, verificou-se que houve inadequação do consumo de alimentos antioxidantes por praticantes de diversos tipos de atividade física, aeróbias e anaeróbias, entre as vitaminas e minerais estudados, observou-se um predomínio de baixo consumo especialmente das Vitaminas A e C. Conclusão: Na presente pesquisa observou-se que os praticantes de atividade física, apresentam consumo inadequado de antioxidantes, é necessário a ingestão adequada  desses compostos devido ao stress físico das lesões decorrentes da prática desportiva

Effect of ellagitannins, ellagic acid and volatile compounds from oak wood on the (+)-catechin, procyanidin B1 and malvidin-3-glucoside content of model wines

Background and Aims: During ageing in oak barrels, wine undergoes changes because of the release of polyphenols and other molecules from wood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of some oak wood-derived volatile compounds, ellagic acid and oak wood extracts on the levels of (+)-catechin, procyanidin B1 and malvidin-3-glucoside. Methods and Results: Phenolics and the oak wood derived volatile compounds studied were quantified by HPLC and by GC, respectively. Additionally, the new compounds formed in the solutions were characterised by their spectral properties. Ellagic acid and/or oak wood extracts slowed the decline in the levels of (+)-catechin and procyanidin B1. In contrast, the decrease in malvidin-3-glucoside was more pronounced in the presence of ellagic acid and oak wood chip extracts. Furfural slowed (+)-catechin degradation, while breakdown of malvidin-3-glucoside was slightly more pronounced in the presence of guaiacol, furfural, vanillin and eugenol. (+)-Catechin, procyanidin B1 and malvidin-3-glucoside did not significantly affect the rate of the degradation of ellagitannins during the storage time studied. Finally, new HPLC peaks were detected in the solutions containing (+)-catechin and ellagic acid, as well as with malvidin-3-glucoside with ellagic acid and oak wood extract. Conclusions: Malvidin 3-glucoside and (+)-catechin and procyanidin B1 presented distinct behaviours during time in the presence of volatile and non-volatile compounds from oak wood. Significance of the Study: This work points out the importance of oak wood components in the degradation of anthocyanins and tannins, as well as the reactions that occur during the ageing of red win