Evaluation of Bioactive Release Kinetics from Crosslinked Chitosan Films with Aloe Vera

Thermocompression was employed to prepare citric acid-crosslinked chitosan films with Aloe vera (AV) as bioactive compound. Films were easy to handle and mechanical properties did not change with the addition of AV up to 10 wt%, although both TS and EAB decreased for the films with 15 wt% AV, indicating that high AV contents would hinder intermolecular interactions among the formulation components. Maillard reaction occurred between chitosan and citric acid at the processing temperature used (115 °C), while physical interactions took place with AV, as shown by FTIR analysis. All films were insoluble but displayed hydration and limited swelling due to both physical and chemical interactions promoted by AV and citric acid, respectively. A slow AV release, governed by a Fickian diffusion controlled mechanism, and an increase of surface hydrophilicity, which favors cell adhesion, were observed.This research was funded by MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE (RTI2018-097100-B-C22). Iratxe Zarandona thanks the Quality and Food Industry Department of the Basque Government for her fellowship (22-2018-00078

Chitosan Films Incorporated with Exopolysaccharides from Deep Seawater Alteromonas sp.

Two Alteromonas sp. strains isolated from deep seawater were grown to promote the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS, E611 and E805), which were incorporated into chitosan solutions to develop films. The combination of the major marine polysaccharides (chitosan and the isolated bacterial EPS) resulted in the formation of homogenous, transparent, colorless films, suggesting good compatibility between the two components of the film-forming formulation. With regards to optical properties, the films showed low values of gloss, in the range of 5–10 GU, indicating the formation of non-glossy and rough surfaces. In addition to the film surface, both showed hydrophobic character, with water contact angles higher than 100 º, regardless of EPS addition. Among the two EPS under analysis, chitosan films with E805 showed better mechanical performance, leading to resistant, flexible, easy to handle films.This research was funded by the Economic Development and Infrastructures Department of the Basque Government (grant number KK-2019/00076) and the Quality and Food Industry Department of the Basque Government (grant number 22-2018-00078)

Magnetically responsive chitosan-pectin films incorporating Fe3O4 nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial activity.

Chitosan-pectin films with iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by solution casting in order to produce biopolymer based magnetically active materials. Infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated physical interactions between the matrix and nanoparticles, corroborated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results. In addition, thermal characterization suggested that the interactions between chitosan, pectin and the nanoparticles resulted in a less compact structure, influencing the film mechanical properties. Regarding vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) and electrical analysis, chitosan-pectin films with Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed ferrimagnetic behavior, with an increase of the dielectric constant as the nanoparticle concentration increased. Furthermore, films displayed enhanced antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram-positive) bacteria. Therefore, chitosan-pectin films with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles provide promising results for active and intelligent food packaging applications.Grant PID2021-124294OB-C22 funded by MCI/AEI10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Biomat group thanks the Basque Government for funding (IT1658-22) and I.Z. thanks the Basque Government for her fellowship (22-2018-00078). This work was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under strategic funding UIDB/04650/2020, UID/FIS/04650/2021, project PTDC/FIS-MAC/28157/2017, and Investigator FCT Contracts 2020.02915.CEECIND (D.M.C) and 2020.04028.CEECIND (C.M.C.) funded by national funds through FCT and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020-Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). Thanks are also due to the Advanced Research Facilities (SGIker) from the UPV/EHU

Consumption of ultra-processed products and wheezing respiratory diseases in children: the SENDO project

Introducción: el consumo de productos ultraprocesados (UP) se relaciona con múltiples enfermedades en el adulto, como hipertensión arterial, diabetes o asma. Objetivo: estudiar si el consumo de UP en niños se asocia con enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes (asma o bronquitis / sibilancias de repetición). Material y métodos: estudio transversal dentro del proyecto Seguimiento del Niño para un Desarrollo Óptimo (SENDO), una cohorte abierta, multidisciplinar y multipropósito de niños españoles. El consumo de UP se calculó mediante cuestionarios semicuantitativos de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos. Los alimentos se agruparon según la clasificación NOVA y se estimó el consumo diario y el porcentaje de kilocalorías procedentes de UP. Dividimos la exposición en ‘alto’ y ‘bajo’ a partir de la mediana de consumo. Se calcularon las odds ratio y los intervalos de confianza al 95% para las enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes asociadas al consumo alto de UP, usando como referencia el bajo consumo. Se calcularon estimadores brutos y multiajustados y se utilizaron modelos de regresión mixtos para tener en cuenta la correlación entre hermanos. Resultados: en los 513 niños estudiados (51,8% varones, edad media de 5,2 años), el consumo medio de UP fue de 446,76g/día, representando un 39,9% de la ingesta calórica total. Un alto consumo de UP se asoció a un incremento del 87% de la prevalencia de enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes (OR 1,87; IC 95% 1,01-3,45). Encontramos que un mayor consumo de UP multiplica por 2,12 (IC 95% 1,10-4,05) la prevalencia de bronquitis / sibilancias de repetición. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados muestran una asociación directa entre el consumo de UP y la prevalencia de enfermedades sibilantes en niños.Introduction: the consumption of ultra-processed products (UP) is associated with many diseases in the adult, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes, orasthma. Objective: to determine whether the consumption of UP in children is associated with wheezing respiratory diseases (asthma or bronchitis / recurrent wheezing). Material and methods: across- sectional study was conducted with in the Follow-up of the Child for Optimal Development (SENDO) Project (an open, multidisciplinary and multiple out come study of Spanish children). The consumption of UP was calculated using semi-quantitative questionnaires on the frequency of food consumption. The foods were grouped according the NOVA classification, and the daily c onsumption was estimated along with the percentage of kilocalories from the UP. The exposure was grouped into ‘high’ and ‘low’ from the median consumption. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for wheezing respiratory diseases associated with the high consumption UP, using low consumption as a reference. Crude and multi-adjuste destimators were calculated, and mixed regression models were used to take into account the correlation between siblings. Results: in the 513 children studied (51.8% males, meanage 5.2 years), the mean consumption of UP was 446.76g / day, representing 39.9% of the total calories ingested. A high consumption of UP was associated with an increase of 87% in the prevalence of wheezing respiratory diseases (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.01-3.45). It was found that a higher consumption of UP multiplied by 2.12 (95% CI 1.10-4.05) the prevalence of bronchitis / recurrent wheezing. Conclusions: the results of this study show a direct relationship between UP consumption and the prevalence of wheezing diseases in children.Ayudas a la Investigación Ignacio H. de Larramendi 2015. Beca SENP: Jóvenes Investigadores de la Sociedad Española de Neumología Pediátrica, 2016. Beca de Ayuda a la investigación, Fundación AEP, Invest-AEP, Asociación Española de Pediatría, 2018

Consumo de productos ultraprocesados y enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes en niños. Proyecto SENDO

Introducción El consumo de productos ultraprocesados (UP) se relaciona con múltiples enfermedades en el adulto, como hipertensión arterial, diabetes o asma. Objetivo estudiar si el consumo de UP en niños se asocia con enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes (asma o bronquitis/sibilancias de repetición). Material y métodos Estudio transversal dentro del proyecto SEguimiento del Niño para un Desarrollo Óptimo (SENDO), una cohorte abierta, multidisciplinar y multipropósito de niños españoles. El consumo de UP se calculó mediante cuestionarios semicuantitativos de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos. Los alimentos se agruparon según la clasificación NOVA y se estimó el consumo diario y el porcentaje de kilocalorías procedentes de UP. Dividimos la exposición en «alto» y «bajo» a partir de la mediana de consumo. Se calcularon las odds ratio y los intervalos de confianza al 95% para las enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes asociadas al consumo alto de UP, usando como referencia el bajo consumo. Se calcularon estimadores brutos y multiajustados y se utilizaron modelos de regresión mixtos para tener en cuenta la correlación entre hermanos. Resultados En los 513 niños estudiados (51,8% varones, edad media de 5,2 años), el consumo medio de UP fue de 446,76 g/día, representando un 39,9% de la ingesta calórica total. Un alto consumo de UP se asoció a un incremento del 87% de la prevalencia de enfermedades respiratorias sibilantes (OR 1,87; IC 95% 1,01-3,45). Encontramos que un mayor consumo de UP multiplica por 2,12 (IC 95% 1,10-4,05) la prevalencia de bronquitis/sibilancias de repetición. Conclusiones Nuestros resultados muestran una asociación directa entre el consumo de UP y la prevalencia de enfermedades sibilantes en niños.Introduction The consumption of ultra-processed products (UP) is associated with many diseases in the adult, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes, or asthma. Objective To determine whether the consumption of UP in children is associated with wheezing respiratory diseases (asthma or bronchitis/recurrent wheezing). Material and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted within the Follow-up of the Child for Optimal Development ?SENDO? project (an open, multidisciplinary and multiple outcome study of Spanish children). The consumption of UP was calculated using semi-quantitative questionnaires on the frequency of food consumption. The foods were grouped according the NOVA classification, and the daily consumption was estimated along with the percentage of kilocalories from the UP. The exposure was grouped into “high” and “low” from the median consumption. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for wheezing respiratory diseases associated with the high consumption UP, using low consumption as a reference. Crude and multi-adjusted estimators were calculated, and mixed regression models were used to take into account the correlation between siblings. Results In the 513 children studied (51.8% males, mean age 5.2 years), the mean consumption of UP was 446.76 g/day, representing 39.9% of the total calories ingested. A high consumption of UP was associated with an increase of 87% in the prevalence of wheezing respiratory diseases (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.01-3.45). It was found that a higher consumption of UP multiplied by 2.12 (95% CI 1.10-4.05) the prevalence of bronchitis/recurrent wheezing. Conclusions The results of this study show a direct relationship between UP consumption and the prevalence of wheezing diseases in children

Emergency vs Delayed Coronary Angiogram in Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

International audienc