Valorization of immature wasted tomatoes to innovative fermented functional foods

This study aimed to consolidate a strategy to valorise immature tomato fruit (GT, cv. H1015) through controlled fermentation (use of starter cultures) in producing high-value food products to support circular economy-oriented innovation. The probiotic character of two pure LAB strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LAB97, isolated from GT) and Weissella paramesenteroides (C1090, INIAV collection), were tested using static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model (sequential digestion and digestive enzymes). Both LAB strain counts reached ca. 6 log CFU/ml after the in vitro simulation, meeting the viability criterion for potential probiotic capacity. In the evaluation of GT-controlled fermentation, the two starters (per se) and the addition of NaCl (1.5%) were assessed (108 CFU/ml of inoculum, 100 rpm, 20 °C, 14 days). It was concluded that LAB 97 strain was superior to the C1090 strain or spontaneous fermentation because it increased process efficiency (fast acidification) and developed an ingredient with sensory acceptance and probiotic potential (> 7 log CFU/ml). The second approach aimed to evaluate the formulation of a sauce with sensory, nutritional, and probiotic potential based on the combination of fermented GT (LAB 97) with other valuable ingredients (avocado, parsley, and honey). The formula chosen included fermented GT (65%) and a 4:2:1 mixture of these ingredients. Different technological strategies (thermal treatment and non-treatment) were tested to prevent microbial contamination by the additional ingredients and promote the shelf life of the sauce storage. The sauce’s shelf stability samples were evaluated during storage (5 °C, 21 days) concerning several quality attributes (microbial counts, pH, soluble solids content, CIELab, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity and panel sensory analysis). The viability of a sauce prototype with sensory quality and valuable antioxidant composition, meeting the microbiological criteria for this type of product, could be concluded. However, decontamination treatments do not improve sauce stability compared to raw ingredients.Este estudo visou consolidar uma estratégia de valorização para frutos imaturos de tomate-indústria (TV, cv. H1015) através da fermentação lática controlada (utilização de culturas de arranque - starters) no desenvolvimento de produtos alimentares de elevado valor, no âmbito da economia circular. O carácter probiótico de duas estirpes de bactérias ácido lácticas (BAL) puras, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (BAL97, isolado do TV) e Weissella paramesenteroides (C1090, colecção de culturas do INIAV), foi testado utilizando um modelo de digestão gastrointestinal estático in vitro (digestão sequencial e enzimas digestivas). Após a simulação in vitro, ambas as estirpes BAL obtiveram contagens de ca. 6 log UFC/mL, cumprindo o critério de viabilidade para serem consideradas com potencial capacidade probiótica. Na avaliação da fermentação de TV, foram avaliadas as duas estirpes de BAL enquanto culturas starters (de per se) e a adição de NaCl (1,5%) (108 UFC/ml de inóculo, 100 rpm, 20 °C, 14 dias). Concluiu-se que a estirpe BAL 97 teve um desempenho superior em comparação com a estirpe C1090 ou, com a fermentação espontânea dos frutos porque contribuiu para uma fermentação mais eficiente (acidificação rápida) dando origem a um ingrediente com aceitação sensorial e potencial probiótico (> 7 log UFC/ml). A segunda abordagem visou avaliar a formulação de um molho com elevado valor composicional e bioativo, aceitação sensorial, e capacidade probiótica baseado na mistura de fermentados de TV (BAL 97) com outros ingredientes valiosos do ponto de vista nutricional e bioativo (abacate, salsa e mel). A formulação selecionada incluiu a mistura de fermentados de TV (65%) com os outros ingredientes mencionados (35%), na proporção relativa (4:2:1). Foram testadas diferentes estratégias tecnológicas (duas intensidades de tratamento térmico e ausência de tratamento) por forma a prevenir a contaminação microbiana pelos ingredientes adicionais e, em consequência promover a estabilidade do molho durante o armazenamento. O protocolo de avaliação das diferentes amostras durante o armazenamento (5 °C, 21 dias) incluiu vários atributos de qualidade (contages microbianas, pH, teor de sólidos solúveis, parâmetros da cor CIELab, teor fenólico total, capacidade antioxidante e análise sensorial por painel). Conclui-se da viabilidade do protótipo desenvolvido, obtendo-se um molho com qualidade sensorial aprovada e com composição antioxidante valiosa, cumprindo simultaneamente os critérios microbiológicos para este tipo de produto. Os tratamentos de descontaminação dos ingredientes não contribuíram para incrementar a estabilidade do molho em comparação com a utilização dos mesmos em cru

Decreases of osteonectin gene expression by gallic acid in vascular smooth muscle cells

زمینه و هدف: در کلسیفیه شدن دیواره رگ ها یک از عوامل مهم در پاتوژنز آترواسکلروز است و پروتئین های ماتریکس استخوان و فاکتورهای تنظیمی از جمله استئونکتین نقش اساسی در تشکیل آتروم و پیشرفت آترواسکلروز به عهده دارند. مطالعات نشان داده اند که مصرف آنتی اکسیدان ها سبب کاهش کلسیفیه شدن عروق و کاهش بروز بیماری های قلبی عروقی می گردند. در این مطالعه تاثیر اسید گالیک بر بیان ژن استئونکتین مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی، میزان مهارکنندگی 50 (IC50) اسید گالیک بر سلول های عضله صاف دیواره رگ ها در سلول های کشت شده تعیین گردید؛ سپس این سلول ها با غلظت های 160، 180 و 200 میکرومولار اسید گالیک به مدت 48 ساعت در برابر گروه کنترل تیمار شدند. بعد از استخراج RNA و سنتز cDNA، میزان بیان ژن استئونکتین با روشReal Time PCR مورد سنجش قرار گرفت. یافته ها: اسید گالیک در غلظت های 160، 180 و 200 میزان بیان ژن استئونکتین را در مقایسه با گروه کنترل به ترتیب 37/1، 93/2 و 3/7 برابر کاهش داد (05/0

Valorisation of Wasted Immature Tomato to Innovative Fermented Functional Foods

Abstract: In this study, the lactic fermentation of immature tomatoes as a tool for food ingredient production was evaluated as a circular economy-oriented alternative for valorising industrial tomatoes that are unsuitable for processing and which have wasted away in large quantities in the field. Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were assessed as starter cultures in an immature tomato pulp fermentation to produce functional food ingredients with probiotic potential. The first trial evaluated the probiotic character of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LAB97, isolated from immature tomato microbiota) andWeissella paramesenteroides (C1090, from the INIAV collection) through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion simulation. The results showed that LAB97 and C1090 met the probiotic potential viability criterion by maintaining 6 log10 CFU/mL counts after in vitro simulation. The second trial assessed the LAB starters’ fermentative ability. Partially decontaminated (110 C/2 min) immature tomato pulp was used to prepare the individually inoculated samples (Id: LAB97 and C1090). Non-inoculated samples, both with and without thermal treatment (Id: CTR-TT and CTR-NTT, respectively), were prepared as the controls. Fermentation was undertaken (25 C, 100 rpm) for 14 days. Throughout storage (0, 24, 48, 72 h, 7, and 14 days), all the samples were tested for LAB and Y&M counts, titratable acidity (TA), solid soluble content (SSC), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AOx), as well as for organic acids and phenolic profiles, and CIELab colour and sensory evaluation (14th day). The LAB growth reached ca. 9 log10 CFU/mL for all samples after 72 h. The LAB97 samples had an earlier and higher acidification rate than the remaining ones, and they were highly correlated to lactic acid increments. The inoculated samples showed a faster and higher decrease rate in their SSC levels when compared to the controls. A nearly two-fold increase (p < 0.05) during the fermentation, over time, was observed in all samples’ AOx and TPC (p < 0.05, r = 0.93; similar pattern). The LAB97 samples obtained the best sensory acceptance for flavour and overall appreciation scores when compared to the others. In conclusion, the L. plantarum LAB97 starter culture was selected as a novel probiotic candidate to obtain a potential probiotic ingredient from immature tomato fruits.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasonography for Identification of Small Bowel Obstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is known as a common cause of acute abdominal complaints in the emergency department (ED). The modality of choice for the diagnosis of SBO has not yet been established. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of SBO. Methods: Systematic search was performed on five electronic databases including Medline, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Embase, and Cochrane Library, and the retrieval period was from the inception of each database to November 2023. The quality of the included studies were investigated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2). The pooled values of diagnostic characteristics for ultrasonography were estimated using meta-Disc and Stata statistical software. Results: Twenty-one studies with a total of 1977 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimate for sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary ROC curve of ultrasonography for diagnosing SBO were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91–0.95), 0.8 (95% CI: 0.77–0.83), 5.69 (95% CI: 3.64–8.89), 0.1 (95% CI: 0.07–0.16), 83.51 (95% CI: 18.12–182.91) and 0.96, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis showed that the utilization of ultrasonography holds promise as a diagnostic imaging for SBO with high accuracy. However, additional worldwide studies are essential to get more evidence on the value of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of SBO

Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Funding: F Carvalho and E Fernandes acknowledge support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy i4HB; FCT/MCTES through the project UIDB/50006/2020. J Conde acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). V M Costa acknowledges the grant SFRH/BHD/110001/2015, received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006.proofepub_ahead_of_prin

Burden of tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer in North Africa and Middle East countries, 1990 to 2019: Results from the GBD study 2019

ObjectiveTo provide estimates on the regional and national burden of tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer and its attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2019 in the North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region.Methods and materialsThe Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 data were used. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), death, incidence, and prevalence rates were categorized by sex and age groups in the NAME region, in 21 countries, from 1990 to 2019. Decomposition analysis was performed to calculate the proportion of responsible factors in the emergence of new cases. Data are presented as point estimates with their 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs).ResultsIn the NAME region, TBL cancer caused 15,396 and 57,114 deaths in women and men, respectively, in 2019. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increased by 0.7% (95% UI -20.6 to 24.1) and reached 16.8 per 100,000 (14.9 to 19.0) in 2019. All the age-standardized indices had a decreasing trend in men and an increasing trend in women from 1990 to 2019. Turkey (34.9 per 100,000 [27.6 to 43.5]) and Sudan (8.0 per 100,000 [5.2 to 12.5]) had the highest and lowest age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs) in 2019, respectively. The highest and lowest absolute slopes of change in ASPR, from 1990 to 2019, were seen in Bahrain (-50.0% (-63.6 to -31.7)) and the United Arab Emirates (-1.2% (-34.1 to 53.8)), respectively. The number of deaths attributable to risk factors was 58,816 (51,709 to 67,323) in 2019 and increased by 136.5%. Decomposition analysis showed that population growth and age structure change positively contributed to new incident cases. More than 80% of DALYs could be decreased by controlling risk factors, particularly tobacco use.ConclusionThe incidence, prevalence, and DALY rates of TBL cancer increased, and the death rate remained unchanged from 1990 to 2019. All the indices and contribution of risk factors decreased in men but increased in women. Tobacco is still the leading risk factor. Early diagnosis and tobacco cessation policies should be improved

comparative study of elements of trademark infringement in us and iranian law

According to Article 32 (1) of the American Trademark law, trademark infringement is commercial use with no permition of the mark of another in a way that causes likelihood of confusion to product or service, their origin or affiliation to that origin. The grounds of of realizationtrademark infringement in us include the existence of valid mark whether registered or unregistered and using of mark, being the use commercial, proof of likelihood of confusion. Also the Iranian patent, industrial dedign and trademark law, introduce the non permission use of anothers mark and accoring likelehood of confusion of the consumer, the requirements of civil liability from the trademark infringement and like lanham act, do not mention the negligince of defendant. However, studing the judicial perecents shaws that in iraninn law, existing of valid registered or unregistered mark and being the use of anothers mark commercial, is the realization of infringement. Unlike the American system, Iranian law does not mention the confusion arising from affiliation and confusion following such confusion, is considered under the false advertising. In compare with the lanham act, with respect to the irrelevance of it in confision of consumer, this is the advantage of Iran's law. In this paper, emphasizing judgements of courts of us and Iran, analyzing these elements will be discussed and appropriate proposals presented during the discussion of the project

Awareness of Medical Students of Gonabad University About Nutrition and Food Preservation in Disasters

Background: Healthy and hygienic foods should be available for healthy life of humans in all circumstances. This issue will be more important when a disaster occurrs. Iran is among high risk natural disaster countries, that should be always prepared. The present study aimed to evaluate the awareness of Gonabad University Medical students about nutrition and food preservation at times of disaster. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted on 360 students out of 1800 Medical Sciences students of Gonabad University who were selected by stratified random sampling method in 2016. A self-designed questionnaire consisting of 10 questions with acceptable validity and reliability was used with Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.8. Finally, the data were analyzed by 1-sample t-test and Mann -Whitney test through SPSS 16. Results: The results showed that 39%, 35.5%, and 25.5% of the participants had a good, moderate, and low level of awareness about nutrition and preservation in disasters, respectively. No significant difference was observed between genders (P>0.05), and fields of study with regard to their awareness (P=0.002). Conclusion: It was found that the students' awareness about nutrition and food preservation at times of disaster was poor. Thus, to achieve a successful disaster management, it is recommended that an appropriate instruction manual of nutrition and food preservation be prepared by disaster response agencies and be taught for the guidance of students

Study on the Awareness of the Students of Azad University of Medical Sciences About Nutrition and Food Storing Stuff During Crisis

Background: Consumption of healthy and hygienic foods is imperative to live a healthy life. This issue is of greater importance when obtaining foodstuff is relatively tough. The countries prone to natural disasters should always be prepared for a crisis. The present study aims to investigate awareness among the students in Azad University of Medical Sciences regarding nutrition and storing foodstuff in case of crisis.&nbsp; Materials and Methods: A descriptive-analytical method was used in the present study. The study participants included 1350 students in Azad University of Medical Science which were selected randomly from all students in the academic year 2015-2016. Experts confirmed the validity of the questionnaire and it was distributed among the students. The collected data was analyzed through SPSS version 16.&nbsp; Results: Given the results of the study, only 35% of the participants had a good level of awareness, 38.5% had moderate awareness, and 26.5% had low level of awareness about nutrition and how to store food during crisis. No significant gender and age (&alpha;=0.05) difference was observed. Conclusion: Health experts and authorities should be aware of nutrition safety and sampling risky foods. This process can be helpful in case of a crisis, especially during early hours of the crisis and after the settlement of the displaced population are essential. To that end, training the experts and authorities responsible for such situations can be helpful. Therefore, holding training courses and teaching for related authorities on how to prevent waterborne and foodborne disease can prevent from food poisoning outbreaks and high mortality rate

Ocular higher-order aberrations changes after implantable collamer lens implantation for high myopic astigmatism

Purpose: To investigate the changes in higher-order aberrations (HOAs) induced by the implantation of implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) and Toric ICL (TICL) in eyes with high myopia and high myopic astigmatism. Methods: We investigated 33 eyes of 18 consecutive patients (in a prospective, interventional case series study), with spherical equivalent errors of −6.00 to −21.09 diopters (D) and cylindrical errors of −0.5 to −4.75 D, who underwent ICL and TICL implantation. Before and after 5 days, 2 and 6 months of surgery, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), defocus and adverse events of the surgery were assessed. Ocular HOAs were also evaluated by Hartmann-Shack aberrometry (Technolas PV, Rochester, New York, USA) before and after 6 months of surgery. Results: At 6.0 months after surgery, the UCVA and BCVA in 40% and 66.7% of eyes were 20/20, respectively. Mean defocus refraction and astigmatism was reduced to −0.66 and 0.65 D from −12.79 and 2.18 at baseline, respectively. For a 6 mm pupil, HOAs were not significantly changed, merely from 0.417 ± 0.162 μ before surgery to 0.393 ± 0.119 μ after surgery (P = 0.45). Spherical aberration (Z400) increased significantly (P = 00.0). Surgical induced astigmatism was lower than 0.25 D, and there were no changes in trefoils and coma aberration. No vision-threatening complications occurred during the observation period. Conclusion: This study shows that the ICL and TICL performed well in correcting high myopic astigmatism without significant changes in HOAs during a 6-month observation period, although the spherical aberration (Z400) increased significantly. Keywords: Implantable collamer lens, Higher-order aberrations, Phakic intraocular lens, Myopic astigmatis