Physicochemical evaluation of personal care products Ddeveloped with Chondrus crispus fractions processed by ecofriendly methodologies

Novel personal care products are necessary to cope with the growing market demand for sustainable green products. In this context, this work deals with the formulation and fundamental physicochemical and rheological characterization of different natural personal care products using bioactive fractions from Chondrus crispus red macroalgae extracted under optimized green conditions. Body milks, body oils and shampoos were supplemented with soluble extracts with antioxidant features recovered after hydrothermal (200 °C) and microwave (170 °C)- and ultrasound (80 °C)-assisted extraction of the red macroalgae used as raw material. Formulated products were also compared with those prepared using (±)-α-tocopherol and butylhydroxytoluene standards. Body scrubs were formulated with the remaining solids (<2.25 %) after microwave hydrodiffusion and gravidity treatment of the macroalgae. Results indicated that selected extracts provided personal care products with similar or even better physicochemical, color and viscous features than those supplemented with (±)-α-tocopherol or butylhydroxytoluene commercial antioxidants. Rheological profiles indicated that it is possible to develop personal care products with adequate viscous behavior (102–105 mPa s, at 1 s−1), comparable with their synthetic counterparts. To conclude, the addition of antioxidant extracts led to lower apparent viscosity values suggesting an advantage from the skin applicability point of view, jointly with the absence of both the hysteresis phenomenon and water syneresis of the proposed formulations.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431F 2020/01Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RTI2018-096376-B-I00Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RYC2018-024454-

Retinal Vascular Analysis in a Fully Automated Method for the Segmentation of DRT Edemas Using OCT Images

[Abstract] Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a well-established medical imaging technique that allows a complete analysis and evaluation of the main retinal structures and their histopathology properties. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) implies the accumulation of intraretinal fluid within the macular region. Diffuse Retinal Thickening (DRT) edemas are considered a relevant case of DME disease, where the pathological regions are characterized by a “sponge-like” appearance and a reduced intraretinal reflectivity, being visible in OCT images. Additionally, the presence of other structures may alter the OCT image characteristics, confusing the pathological identification process. This is the case of the retinal vessels over all the eye fundus, whose presence produce shadow projections over the retinal layers that may hide the “sponge-like” appearance of the DRT edemas. Thus, in this paper, we present a proposal for the automatic extraction of DRT edemas, also using as reference the information provided by the automatic identifications of the retinal vessels in the OCT images. To do that, firstly, the system delimits three retinal regions of interest. These retinal regions facilitate the posterior identification of the vessel structures and the segmentation of the DRT regions. For the identification of the vessels structures, the method combined the localization of the upper bright vascular profiles with the presence of their corresponding lower dark vascular shadows. Finally, a learning strategy is implemented for the segmentation of the DRT edemas. Satisfactory results were obtained, reaching values of 0.8346 and 0.9051 of Jaccard index and Dice coefficient, respectively, for the extraction of the existing DRT edemas.Xunta de Galicia; ED431G/01Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016-047This work is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Government of Spain and FEDER funds of the European Union through the DTS18/00136 research projects and by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Government of Spain through the DPI2015-69948-R research project. Also, this work has received financial support from the European Union (European Regional Development Fund - ERDF) and the Xunta de Galicia, Centro singular de investigación de Galicia accreditation 2016-2019, Ref. ED431G/01; and Grupos de Referencia Competitiva, Ref. ED431C 2016-047

Automatic macular edema identification and characterization using OCT images

© 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. This version of the article: Samagaio, G., Estévez, A., Moura, J. de, Novo, J., Fernández, M. I., & Ortega, M. (2018). “Automatic macular edema identification and characterization using OCT images” has been accepted for publication in Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 163, 47–63. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2018.05.033.[Abstract]: Background and objective: The detection and characterization of the intraretinal fluid accumulation constitutes a crucial ophthalmological issue as it provides useful information for the identification and diagnosis of the different types of Macular Edema (ME). These types are clinically defined, according to the clinical guidelines, as: Serous Retinal Detachment (SRD), Diffuse Retinal Thickening (DRT) and Cystoid Macular Edema (CME). Their accurate identification and characterization facilitate the diagnostic process, determining the disease severity and, therefore, allowing the clinicians to achieve more precise analysis and suitable treatments. Methods: This paper proposes a new fully automatic system for the identification and characterization of the three types of ME using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images. In the case of SRD and CME edemas, multilevel image thresholding approaches were designed and combined with the application of ad-hoc clinical restrictions. The case of DRT edemas, given their complexity and fuzzy regional appearance, was approached by a learning strategy that exploits intensity, texture and clinical-based information to identify their presence. Results: The system provided satisfactory results with F-Measures of 87.54% and 91.99% for the DRT and CME detections, respectively. In the case of SRD edemas, the system correctly detected all the cases that were included in the designed dataset. Conclusions: The proposed methodology offered an accurate performance for the individual identification and characterization of the three different types of ME in OCT images. In fact, the method is capable to handle the ME analysis even in cases of significant severity with the simultaneous existence of the three ME types that appear merged inside the retinal layers.This work is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Government of Spain and FEDER funds of the European Union through the PI14/02161 and the DTS15/00153 research projects and by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Government of Spain through the DPI2015-69948-R research project. Also, this work has received financial support from the European Union (European Regional Development Fund - ERDF) and the Xunta de Galicia, Centro singular de investigación de Galicia accreditation 2016–2019, Ref. ED431G/01; and Grupos de Referencia Competitiva, Ref. ED431C 2016-047.Xunta de Galicia; ED431G/01Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016-04

Joint Diabetic Macular Edema Segmentation and Characterization in OCT Images

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-020-00360-y[Abstract]: The automatic identification and segmentation of edemas associated with diabetic macular edema (DME) constitutes a crucial ophthalmological issue as they provide useful information for the evaluation of the disease severity. According to clinical knowledge, the DME disorder can be categorized into three main pathological types: serous retinal detachment (SRD), cystoid macular edema (CME), and diffuse retinal thickening (DRT). The implementation of computational systems for their automatic extraction and characterization may help the clinicians in their daily clinical practice, adjusting the diagnosis and therapies and consequently the life quality of the patients. In this context, this paper proposes a fully automatic system for the identification, segmentation and characterization of the three ME types using optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. In the case of SRD and CME edemas, different approaches were implemented adapting graph cuts and active contours for their identification and precise delimitation. In the case of the DRT edemas, given their fuzzy regional appearance that requires a complex extraction process, an exhaustive analysis using a learning strategy was designed, exploiting intensity, texture, and clinical-based information. The different steps of this methodology were validated with a heterogeneous set of 262 OCT images, using the manual labeling provided by an expert clinician. In general terms, the system provided satisfactory results, reaching Dice coefficient scores of 0.8768, 0.7475, and 0.8913 for the segmentation of SRD, CME, and DRT edemas, respectively.This work is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Government of Spain, and FEDER funds through the DTS18/00136 research project and by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Government of Spain through the DPI2015-69948-R and RTI2018-095894-B-I00 research projects. Also, this work has received financial support from the European Union (European Regional Development Fund - ERDF) and the Xunta de Galicia, Centro de Investigación del Sistema Universitário de Galicia, Ref. ED431G 2019/01; and Grupos de Referencia Competitiva, Ref. ED431C 2016-047.Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/01Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016-04

Fully Automatic Retinal Vascular Tortuosity Assessment Integrating Domain-Related Information

[Abstract] The fundus of the eye is the only part of the human body that allows a direct non-invasive observation of the circulatory system. Retinal vascular tortuosity presents a valuable potential for diagnostic and treatment purposes of relevant vascular and systemic diseases. This work presents a computational metric for the tortuosity characterization that combines mathematical representations of the vessel segments with anatomical properties of the fundus image such as the vessel caliber, the distance to the optic disc, the distance to the fovea and the distinction between arteries and veins. The evaluation of the prognostic performance shows that the incorporation of the domain-related information allows a reliable characterization of the retinal vascular tortuosity that provides a better representation of the expert perception.This work is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Government of Spain and FEDER funds of the European Union through the DTS18/00136 research projects and by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Government of Spain through the RTI2018-095894-B-I00 research projects; CITIC, Centro de Investigación de Galicia ref. ED431G 2019/01, receives financial support from Consellería de Educación, Universidade e Formación Profesional, Xunta de Galicia, through the ERDF (80%) and Secretaría Xeral de Universidades (20%)Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/0

Denominacións galegas para algunhas froitas

The lack of designations in Galician language for fruits coming from foreign markets is clearly significant. In this paper we deal with the task of adapting the foreign names of some of these fruits to our language. This contribution is the beginning of a series of notes focusing on terminology issues.Aos nosos comercios chegan cada vez máis froitas procedentes do mercado exterior para as que non existían denominacións en galego. Este traballo intenta dar resposta á adaptación dalgúns destes estranxeirismos na nosa lingua, e supón o comezo dunha serie de notas nas que se abordarán esta e outras temáticas

People would rather see a physician than a dentist when experiencing a long-standing oral ulceration. A population-based study in Spain

Primary care physicians have been reported to be the first choice for patients with oral ulcerations. This study investigates the health-seeking behaviour of lay public in Galicia (North-western Spain) if experiencing a long-standing oral ulceration. Cross-sectional population-based survey of randomly selected respondents conducted from March 1, 2015 to 30 June 2016. A total of 5,727 pedestrians entered the study (response rate: 53%), mostly in the 45-64 age group (30.2%; n=1,728), 47.7% of them (n=2,729) were males. Most participants (42.1%; n=2,411) reported to visit their dentist once a year and had secondary or compulsory education as their highest educational achievement (28.18%, n=1,614; 28%, n=1,600 respectively). When questioned what they would do if they had a wound/ulceration lasting longer than 3 weeks, most participants answered they would go to see their primary care physician (62.8%; n=3,597) and less than one quarter of the sample (23.8%; n=1,371) would seek consultation with their dentist. General Galician population would seek professional consultation about a long-standing oral ulceration, relying mostly on primary care physicians. Those neglecting these lesions are elderly, less-schooled people and unaware of oral cancer

Oral cancer awareness in North-Western Spain:a population-based study

An early diagnosis depends greatly on patient awareness. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate general awareness of oral cancer and knowledge about its risk factors, signs and symptoms. Cross-sectional population-based survey of randomly selected respondents conducted from March 1, 2015 to 30 June 2016. A total of 5,727 people entered the survey (response rate: 53%). When asked what cancers participants had heard about, 20.3% mentioned oral cancer. Regarding risk factors, tobacco was mentioned by 55.3% of the sample (n=3,169), followed by alcohol (12.5%; n=708), poor oral hygiene (10.8%; n=618), diet (6.5%; n=377), and genetics (4.5%; n=248). General population has low awareness of oral cancer with poor knowledge of risk factors and main alarm signs. In addition, individuals in the risk group scored lower values in the main variables analysed; even those highly educated showed insufficient awareness and knowledge of oral cancer. In these circumstances, there is clear need for educational interventions tailored to the target audience and aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness of oral cancer to promote primary prevention of oral cancer and minimising the time interval of patients with symptomatic oral cancer in their path to treatment

Signatures of selection for bonamiosis resistance in European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis): New genomic tools for breeding programs and management of natural resources

The European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a highly appreciated mollusk with an important aquaculture production throughout the 20th century, in addition to playing an important role on coastal ecosystems. Overexploitation of natural beds, habitat degradation, introduction of non‐native species, and epidemic outbreaks have severely affected this important resource, particularly, the protozoan parasite Bonamia ostreae, which is the main concern affecting its production and conservation. In order to identify genomic regions and markers potentially associated with bonamiosis resistance, six oyster beds distributed throughout the European Atlantic coast were sampled. Three of them have been exposed to this parasite since the early 1980s and showed some degree of innate resistance (long‐term affected group, LTA), while the other three were free of B. ostreae at least until sampling date (naïve group, NV). A total of 14,065 SNPs were analyzed, including 37 markers from candidate genes and 14,028 from a medium‐density SNP array. Gene diversity was similar between LTA and NV groups suggesting no genetic erosion due to long‐term exposure to the parasite, and three population clusters were detected using the whole dataset. Tests for divergent selection between NV and LTA groups detected the presence of a very consistent set of 22 markers, located within a putative single genomic region, which suggests the presence of a major quantitative trait locus associated with B. ostreae resistance. Moreover, 324 outlier loci associated with factors other than bonamiosis were identified allowing fully discrimination of all the oyster beds. A practical tool which included the 84 highest discriminative markers for tracing O. edulis populations was developed and tested with empirical data. Results reported herein could assist the production of stocks with improved resistance to bonamiosis and facilitate the management of oyster beds for recovery production and ecosystem services provided by this species.This work was funded by the OYSTERECOVER project (FP7‐SME‐2008‐2‐243583) from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme, the European Regional Development's funds (FEDER), and Xunta de Galicia local government (GRC2014/010, R2014/046). The development and provision of the medium‐density SNP array for oysters was supported by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and National Environment Research Council (NERC) grants (BB/M026140/1, NE/P010695/1), in addition to BBSRC Institute Strategic Program Grants (BBS/E/D/20002172 and BBS/E/D/30002275)S

Tracing the genetic impact of farmed turbot Scophthalmus maximus on wild populations

The impact of escapees from aquaculture is of general concern for the sustainability of natural resources. Turbot Scophthalmus maximus is a marine flatfish of great commercial value whose land-based aquaculture started approx. 40 yr ago; hence, a low impact of escapees is expected on wild populations. However, enhancement of wild stocks using farmed turbot has been carried out along the Northeast Atlantic coasts in the last decades. Recently, a broad panel of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers (755 SNPs; 1 SNP Mb−1) has been used to evaluate the genetic structure of turbot throughout its distribution range, constituting the baseline to evaluate the impact of farmed fish in the wild. Two distinct origins were identified for farmed turbot (F_ORI1 and F_ORI2; FST = 0.049), which differentiated from wild populations after 5 generations of selection (average FST = 0.059), and consistent evidence of adaptation to domestication was de - tected. A notable proportion of fish of farmed ancestry was detected in the wild (15.5%), mainly in the North Sea, where restocking activities have taken place, determining genetic introgression in wild populations. Conversely, effects of land-based aquaculture appear negligible. A simulation exercise supported panels of 40 and 80 SNPs to identify fishes of F_ORI1 and F_ORI2 ancestry in the wild, respectively. Application to empirical data showed an assignment success (wild/farmed ancestry) of approx. 95% in comparison with the full SNP dataset. The SNP tools will be useful to monitor turbot of farmed ancestry in the wild, which might represent a risk, considering the lower fitness of farmed individualsThe project was funded by the 7th Framework Programme for research (FP7) under ‘Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy — KBBE’, Theme 2: ‘Food, Agriculture and fisheries, and Biotechnologies’ Project identifier: FP7-KBBE-2012-6-singlestage Grant agreement no.: 311920 ‘The development of tools for tracing and evaluating the genetic impact of fish from aquaculture: AquaTrace’ and the Spanish Regional Government Xunta de Galicia GRC2014/010. Ciência sem Fronteiras/CAPES − Brazil supported the fellowship for the stay of F.D.P. at USCS