Physiological responses of native Tunisian grapevines and some rootstocks to direct iron deficiency

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Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction: Effect of Extraction Time and Solvent Power on the Levels of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity of Mesembryanthemum edule L. Aizoaceae Shoots

Purpose: To investigate the influence of extraction conditions assisted by ultrasound on the quality of extracts obtained from Mesembryanthemum edule shoots.Methods: The extraction procedure was carried out in an ultrasonic bath. The effect of two solvents (methanol and ethanol) and two extraction times (5 and 10 min) were evaluated on the basis of the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the plant extract.Results: Significant variability in phenolic content and antioxidant activity, depending on the solvent (S), and to a lesser degree, extraction duration (D) and their interaction (S/D) were found. Methanol extract was significantly richer in total polyphenols than ethanol extract, their levels being 104.7 and 74.2 mg GAE.g-1DW, respectively. For the two solvents used, longer extraction duration yielded higher polyphenol content. The ethanol extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the methanol extract. Moreover, Also, the longer sonication duration (10 min) yielded extracts with higher antioxidant activities.Conclusion: The antioxidant capacity of M. edule is strongly influenced by the nature of the extracting solvent and the duration of sonication extraction.Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Extraction duration, Mesembryanthemum edule, Polyphenols, Sonicatio

Phenolic nature, occurrence and polymerization degree as marker of environmental adaptation in the edible halophyte Mesembryanthemum edule

AbstractMesembryanthemum edule is an edible medicinal halophyte traditionally used to treat several human diseases. In this study, particular importance was attached to the influence of environmental conditions on phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of two M. edule provenances from contrasting climatic regions (Djerba and Monastir sampled from arid and superior semi-arid bioclimatic stages, respectively). Shoot phenolic content was evaluated using colorimetric method and its composition was identified by HPLC analysis with or without thiolysis. Antioxidant activities were assessed by five in vitro antioxidant systems. Results showed that the two M. edule provenances were significantly different according to their antioxidant activity as well as their polyphenol profiles. Indeed, plants from Djerba (lack of rainfall and long light hour periods) exhibited stronger antioxidant activity together with higher phenolic content. For instance, Djerba provenance shoots showed much lower IC50 (4.8μgml−1) and EC50 (80μgml−1) values for DPPH and Fe-reducing tests, respectively. In addition, the superiority of this provenance (Djerba) was more marked as compared to positive controls (BHT, BHA, and VitC). HPLC identification revealed also an important difference between the two provenances on major flavonoid components. This difference was confirmed by the mean degrees of tannin polymerization (DPn) which was higher in Djerba plants. These data suggest that M. edule adaptation to environmental stresses proceeds through induced particular phenol quality and DPn for the improvement of their antioxidant capacities to protect plant tissues against oxidative stress

Impact of Morbidity and Mortality Conferences on Analysis of Mortality and Critical Events in Intensive Care Practice

Background Morbidity and mortality conferences are a tool for evaluating care management, but they lack a precise format for practice in intensive care units.Objectives To evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of regular morbidity and mortality conferences specific to intensive care units for improving quality of care and patient safety. Methods For 1 year, a prospective study was conducted in an 18-bed intensive care unit. Events analyzed included deaths in the unit and 4 adverse events (unexpected cardiac arrest, unplanned extubation, reintubation within 24–48 hours after planned extubation, and readmission to the unit within 48 hours after discharge) considered potentially preventable in optimal intensive care practice. During conferences, events were collectively analyzed with the help of an external auditor to determine their severity, causality, and preventability. Results During the study period, 260 deaths and 100 adverse events involving 300 patients were analyzed. The adverse events rate was 16.6 per 1000 patient-days. Adverse events occurred more often between noon and 4 pm (P = .001).The conference consensus was that 6.1% of deaths and 36% of adverse events were preventable. Preventable deaths were associated with iatrogenesis (P = .008), human errors (P < .001), and failure of unit management factors or communication (P = .003). Three major recommendations were made concerning standardization of care or prescription and organizational management, and no similar incidents have recurred. Conclusion In addition to their educational value, regular morbidity and mortality conferences formatted for intensive care units are useful for assessing quality of care and patient safety

Anti-aging activities of extracts from Tunisian medicinal halophytes and their aromatic constituents

Six medicinal halophytes widely represented in North Africa and commonly used in traditional medicine were screened for pharmacological properties to set out new promising sources of natural ingredients for cosmetic or nutraceutical applications. Thus, Citrullus colocynthis, Cleome arabica, Daemia cordata, Haloxylon articulatum, Pituranthos scoparius and Scorzonera undulata were examined for their in vitro antioxidant (DPPH scavenging and superoxide anion-scavenging, β-carotene bleaching inhibition and iron-reducing tests), antibacterial (microdi- lution method, against four human pathogenic bacteria) and anti-tyrosinase activities. Besides, their aromatic com- position was determined by RP-HPLC. H. articulatum shoot extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity and inhibited efficiently the growth of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli. P. scoparius and C. arabica inhibited slightly monophenolase, whereas H. articulatum was the most efficient inhibitor of diphenolase activity. Furthermore, H. articulatum exhibited the highest aromatic content (3.4 % DW), with dopamine as the major com- pound. These observations suggest that shoot extract of H. articulatum, and to a lesser extent of C. arabica, could otic as well as new natural skin lightening agents. Also, possible implication of aromatic compounds in anti-tyrosinase activity is discussed

Health promoting potential of herbal teas and tinctures from Artemisia campestris subsp maritima: from traditional remedies to prospective products

This work explored the biotechnological potential of the medicinal halophyte Artemisia campestris subsp. maritima (dune wormwood) as a source of health promoting commodities. For that purpose, infusions, decoctions and tinctures were prepared from roots and aerial-organs and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic and tyrosinase-inhibitory potential, and also for polyphenolic and mineral contents and toxicity. The dune wormwood extracts had high polyphenolic content and several phenolics were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). The main compounds were quinic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, coumarin sulfates and dicaffeoylquinic acids; several of the identified phytoconstituents are here firstly reported in this A. campestris subspecies. Results obtained with this plant's extracts point to nutritional applications as mineral supplementary source, safe for human consumption, as suggested by the moderate to low toxicity of the extracts towards mammalian cell lines. The dune wormwood extracts had in general high antioxidant activity and also the capacity to inhibit a-glucosidase and tyrosinase. In summary, dune wormwood extracts are a significant source of polyphenolic and mineral constituents, antioxidants and a-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitors, and thus, relevant for different commercial segments like the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food industries.FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BD/94407/2013]; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) [12M8315N]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

LC-MS PHENOLIC COMPOSITION CHANGES AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITIES OF THE SAHARAN TREE ARGANIA SPINOSA LEAVES UNDER SALNITY

Adaptation of many plant species to hostile environmental conditions suggest the presence of powerful antioxidative constituents in their tissues such as phenolic compounds. Many works on antioxidant activity of the Moroccan argan oil have been carried out. However, it is the first time that salt impact on Algerian arganleaves is assessed. The main objective of this work was to study the soil salinity impact on phenolic content and composition, and the antioxidant activities of the argan leaves collected from three point in the same site of Tindouf region (Algeria) characterized by a gradient of salt concentration (Lightly Salt Tindouf, Salt Tindouf and Very Salt Tindouf). Variability of phenolic contents, antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities of the argan leaves as function of salt soil concentration were evaluated. Identification was done by LC-MS system. Regarding phenolic contents (total polyphenol, flavonoid and condensed tannin), the Salt Tindouf leaves displayed the highest amounts (total polyphenol = 77.28 mg GAE/g DW). Moreover, the same tendency was observed for antioxidant activities, for instance, total antioxidant activity of leaves from Salt Tindouf was the highest (83.6 mg GAE/g DW). In addition, leaves from Salt Tindouf displayed the highest scavenging activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 6.5 μg/ml) as compared to the two others points. These results were also confirmed by LC-MS analyses. Leaves synthesize more compounds with very important biological activities under salinity which allow them to be valorized in different fields, such as pharmacology and agro-food industries

Successful treatment of fusarium solani ecthyma gangrenosum in a patient affected by leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 with granulocytes transfusions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) manifests as a skin lesion affecting patients suffering extreme neutropenia and is commonly associated with <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>in immunocompromised patients. Leukocyte adhesion deficiency I (LAD I) which count among primary immunodeficiency syndromes of the innate immunity, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized in its severe phenotype by a complete defect in CD18 expression on neutrophils, delayed cord separation, chronic skin ulcers mainly due to recurrent bacterial and fungal infections, leucocytosis with high numbers of circulating neutrophils and an accumulation of abnormally low number of neutrophils at sites of infection.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>We report at our knowledge the first case of a child affected by LAD-1, who experienced during her disease course a multi-bacterial and fungal EG lesion caused by <it>fusarium solani</it>. Despite targeted antibiotics and anti-fungi therapy, the lesion extended for as long as 18 months and only massive granulocytes pockets transfusions in association with G-CSF had the capacity to cure this lesion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that granulocytes pockets transfusions will be beneficial to heal EG especially in severely immunocompromised patients.</p

Implications of early respiratory support strategies on disease progression in critical COVID-19: a matched subanalysis of the prospective RISC-19-ICU cohort.

Uncertainty about the optimal respiratory support strategies in critically ill COVID-19 patients is widespread. While the risks and benefits of noninvasive techniques versus early invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are intensely debated, actual evidence is lacking. We sought to assess the risks and benefits of different respiratory support strategies, employed in intensive care units during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic on intubation and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rates. Subanalysis of a prospective, multinational registry of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Patients were subclassified into standard oxygen therapy ≥10 L/min (SOT), high-flow oxygen therapy (HFNC), noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIV), and early IMV, according to the respiratory support strategy employed at the day of admission to ICU. Propensity score matching was performed to ensure comparability between groups. Initially, 1421 patients were assessed for possible study inclusion. Of these, 351 patients (85 SOT, 87 HFNC, 87 NIV, and 92 IMV) remained eligible for full analysis after propensity score matching. 55% of patients initially receiving noninvasive respiratory support required IMV. The intubation rate was lower in patients initially ventilated with HFNC and NIV compared to those who received SOT (SOT: 64%, HFNC: 52%, NIV: 49%, p = 0.025). Compared to the other respiratory support strategies, NIV was associated with a higher overall ICU mortality (SOT: 18%, HFNC: 20%, NIV: 37%, IMV: 25%, p = 0.016). In this cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19, a trial of HFNC appeared to be the most balanced initial respiratory support strategy, given the reduced intubation rate and comparable ICU mortality rate. Nonetheless, considering the uncertainty and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, SOT and early IMV represented safe initial respiratory support strategies. The presented findings, in agreement with classic ARDS literature, suggest that NIV should be avoided whenever possible due to the elevated ICU mortality risk