Effect of Roasting Hass Avocado Kernels on Nutritional Value and Volatile Compounds

Because of the lack of commercial food applications of Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill) kernel, which are a useful agricultural waste and a good source of bioactive compounds, this study investigated the influence of roasting on the chemical composition, antinutritional factors, antioxidant activity, colour, and GC-MS profile in avocado kernels after roasting at 180 °C for 30 min. The nutritional data revealed a significant increase (p p < 0.05) was noticed in crude protein, total flavonoids, Fe, antinutrients, lightness, and yellowness/blueness after roasting. The 94 volatile compounds separated by GC-MS included 51 compounds from raw Hass kernels and 65 compounds from roasted kernels. The identified compounds constituted 96.21% and 93.25% in raw and roasted Hass kernels, respectively. The most compounds in the roasted Hass kernels were 3,7,11, trimethyl-8,10-dodecedienylacetate (6.28%), 2-methylbutan-1-ol (5.89%), 2-decanone, O-methyloxime (3.73%), 2-methyl-pyrazine (3.62%), and n-hexane (3.51%). Esters were the most common volatile compounds present in both raw and roasted Hass avocado kernels extract, we found 15 and 14 of these compounds (27.53 and 20.36%), respectively. This indicates that roasted Hass kernel flour is nutritionally and organoleptically suitable for food applications, including pastries and beverages, especially coffee drinks

Enhancement of the Protective Activity of Vanillic Acid against Tetrachloro-Carbon (CCl4) Hepatotoxicity in Male Rats by the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs)

In the current study, the hepatoprotective activity of vanillic acid, silymarin, and vanillic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was tested in male rats for four weeks. Thirty male rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). The 1st group was a negative control, the 2nd group was a positive control, the 3rd group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid, the 4th group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid&ndash;AgNPs, and the 5th group was treated with 50 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin. The CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in the 2nd group was revealed by the liver function and all other biochemical tests. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, lipid peroxidation, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6 were elevated, whereas, total protein, antioxidant enzymes, and irisin were decreased compared to the negative control. The hepatic tissues were also injured as a result of the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with vanillic acid moderately protected the rats of the 3rd group, whereas treatment with vanillic AgNPs and silymarin in G4 and G5, respectively, greatly protected the rats against the CCl4 hepatotoxicity, approaching the normal biochemical levels and liver tissue appearance. The biochemical tests were confirmed by the histological investigations of liver tissue

Response of Growth, Yield, and Phytochemical Behavior of Jojoba Genotypes to Azolla filiculoides Plant Extract

A unique storage lipid wax found in jojoba seeds can be employed as a chemical feedstock. Alternative safe and natural sources of plant nutrients are constantly sought to preserve both human health and the environment. As a result, EAI1, EAI2, and EAI3 jojoba genotypes&rsquo; growth, yield, and phytochemical behavior in response to Azolla extract at concentrations of 0, 10, and 30% were studied. Maximum productivity was found with EAI1, followed by EAI3 then EAI2 across all Azolla extracts. In relation to the Azolla extract concentrations in the two seasons, the concentration of 30% delivered the most pronounced results across all the studied genotypes. During the two seasons, administration of a combined treatment of the EAI1 jojoba genotype with 30% Azolla extract produced the highest mean values of growth, flowering, and fruiting, as well as chemical composition parameters. This means that the treatment of EAI1 genotype with 30% Azolla filiculoides Lam. plant extract yielded the highest significant seed yield (3748 and 3839 kg ha&minus;1) and oil yield per hectare (1910 and 2002 L ha&minus;1). The combination treatment of the EAI1 jojoba genotype with 10% Azolla extract yielded the highest proportion of gadoleic fatty acid (49.83%)

Maximizing Leaves, Inflorescences, and Chemical Composition Production of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Trees under Calcareous Soil Conditions

One of the main issues limiting plant productivity is a lack of soil nutrient resources, especially in calcareous soil, which covers more than one third of the world’s land surface area. On the other hand, despite rising demand for all parts of the Moringa oleifera tree, several studies have focused on its leaf production as an herbaceous plant, rather than as a tree, and no extensive research has been carried out on leaf and inflorescence production in the mature tree. As a result, the influence of vermicompost and NPK (minerals and nanoparticles), as well as their combination, under calcareous soil conditions, was investigated in this study. The experiment was set up as a split plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. In both seasons considered in this study, it was discovered that increasing the quantity of vermicompost and employing NPK fertilization, as well as their combination treatments, greatly enhanced all parameters and yield of distinct Moringa oleifera tree parts. Furthermore, the combination treatment T21 yielded the highest mean values of growth, leaves, and chemical composition parameters, as well as the highest yield from the Moringa oleifera tree. In both seasons, the highest number of inflorescences per tree, as well as the yield of fresh and dry inflorescences, was measured using combination treatment T18. In both seasons, however, increasing the level of vermicompost, NPK, and their combination treatments significantly reduced the total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of dry Moringa oleifera leaves

Formation of resistant starch and cracker products from leftover rice in Saudi Arabia

Food leftovers are a worldwide concern and the Food and Agriculture Organization reported about 400 billion USD worth of food is wasted yearly. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, food waste is increasing; the loss is about 33.6% of the rice commodity only. To achieve sustainable development goals including zero hunger and sustainable consumption, the current investigation aimed to study the recycling possibilities of rice leftovers through the production of resistant starch (a nutraceutical active component). Proximate analysis, in vitro digestibility (rapidly, slowly, and resistant starches), and conformational techniques (SEM, FTIR, and DSC) were accomplished before and after treating heated or not samples with acetic, citric, and tartaric acids. Also, crackers were produced from rice starch and its sensory evaluations were completed. Results reported variations in starch content between the controls and acid treatments, but interestingly, amounts of protein, and fiber were not different. The highest production of resistant starch (more than 35%) was when treated with tartaric acid and heat treatment, followed by citric acid and heat treatment (32.5%), then acetic acid and heat treatment (28%). The FTIR pictograms revealed the acetylation of heat and acid-treated rice samples. The gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) decreased from 10.51 to 7.81 J/g for control and treated rice by acetic acid without heat. Surprisingly, the panelists reported no differences in the sensory evaluations of crackers produced from treated rice with a high content of resistant starch, which considered as functional food. These findings help achieve food sustainability through commercial-scale functional food production

Innovations and Patent Trends in the Development of USFDA Approved Protein Kinase Inhibitors in the Last Two Decades

Protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) are important therapeutic agents. As of 31 May 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has approved 70 PKIs. Most of the PKIs are employed to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases. Imatinib was the first PKI approved by USFDA in 2001. This review summarizes the compound patents and the essential polymorph patents of the PKIs approved by the USFDA from 2001 to 31 May 2021. The dates on the generic drug availability of the PKIs in the USA market have also been forecasted. It is expected that 19 and 48 PKIs will be genericized by 2025 and 2030, respectively, due to their compound patent expiry. This may reduce the financial toxicity associated with the existing PKIs. There are nearly 535 reported PKs. However, the USFDA approved PKIs target only about 10–15% of the total said PKs. As a result, there are still a large number of unexplored PKs. As the field advances during the next 20 years, one can anticipate that PKIs with many scaffolds, chemotypes, and pharmacophores will be developed

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)’s multidimensional approach on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units in 22 hospitals of 14 cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

To analyze the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Approach (IMA) and use of INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS) on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in Saudi Arabia from September 2013 to February 2017. A multicenter, prospective, before–after surveillance study on 14,961 patients in 37 intensive care units (ICUs) of 22 hospitals. During baseline, we performed outcome surveillance of VAP applying the definitions of the CDC/NHSN. During intervention, we implemented the IMA and the ISOS, which included: (1) a bundle of infection prevention practice interventions, (2) education, (3) outcome surveillance, (4) process surveillance, (5) feedback on VAP rates and consequences and (6) performance feedback of process surveillance. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using generalized linear mixed models to estimate the effect of intervention. The baseline rate of 7.84 VAPs per 1000 mechanical-ventilator (MV)-days―with 20,927 MV-days and 164 VAPs―, was reduced to 4.74 VAPs per 1000 MV-days―with 118,929 MV-days and 771 VAPs―, accounting for a 39% rate reduction (IDR 0.61; 95% CI 0.5–0.7; P 0.001). Implementing the IMA was associated with significant reductions in VAP rates in ICUs of Saudi Arabia

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population

Weaning from mechanical ventilation in intensive care units across 50 countries (WEAN SAFE): a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study

Background Current management practices and outcomes in weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation are poorly understood. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, management, timings, risk for failure, and outcomes of weaning in patients requiring at least 2 days of invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods WEAN SAFE was an international, multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study done in 481 intensive care units in 50 countries. Eligible participants were older than 16 years, admitted to a participating intensive care unit, and receiving mechanical ventilation for 2 calendar days or longer. We defined weaning initiation as the first attempt to separate a patient from the ventilator, successful weaning as no reintubation or death within 7 days of extubation, and weaning eligibility criteria based on positive end-expiratory pressure, fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired air, and vasopressors. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients successfully weaned at 90 days. Key secondary outcomes included weaning duration, timing of weaning events, factors associated with weaning delay and weaning failure, and hospital outcomes. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03255109. Findings Between Oct 4, 2017, and June 25, 2018, 10 232 patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 5869 were enrolled. 4523 (77·1%) patients underwent at least one separation attempt and 3817 (65·0%) patients were successfully weaned from ventilation at day 90. 237 (4·0%) patients were transferred before any separation attempt, 153 (2·6%) were transferred after at least one separation attempt and not successfully weaned, and 1662 (28·3%) died while invasively ventilated. The median time from fulfilling weaning eligibility criteria to first separation attempt was 1 day (IQR 0–4), and 1013 (22·4%) patients had a delay in initiating first separation of 5 or more days. Of the 4523 (77·1%) patients with separation attempts, 2927 (64·7%) had a short wean (≤1 day), 457 (10·1%) had intermediate weaning (2–6 days), 433 (9·6%) required prolonged weaning (≥7 days), and 706 (15·6%) had weaning failure. Higher sedation scores were independently associated with delayed initiation of weaning. Delayed initiation of weaning and higher sedation scores were independently associated with weaning failure. 1742 (31·8%) of 5479 patients died in the intensive care unit and 2095 (38·3%) of 5465 patients died in hospital. Interpretation In critically ill patients receiving at least 2 days of invasive mechanical ventilation, only 65% were weaned at 90 days. A better understanding of factors that delay the weaning process, such as delays in weaning initiation or excessive sedation levels, might improve weaning success rates