Combining chitosan-fish oil-green tea extract as a potential active coating for fresh Atlantic bonito fillet preservation

Sustainable bio-based packaging materials are gaining increasing attention by food manufacturers and consumers, as possible substitutes for synthetic plastic materials. In particular, edible biopolymer coatings/films could be applied to highly perishable food products to preserve their freshness and increase shelf life. Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) is a well-known fish from Atlantic Ocean with pleasant taste and high nutritional value. However, it is susceptible to lipid oxidation and spoilage. Therefore, a sustainable and active coating formulation composed by chitosan (CH)-fish oil (FO)-green tea extract (GTE) was developed to be apply on Atlantic bonito fillets surface to extend its shelf life. CH, FO and GTE were selected due to their well-known antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. A Central Composite Rotational Design was developed to evaluate the effect of coating/film compounds concentration CH (0.5-2.31%, w/w), FO (0.20-0.44%, w/w) and GTE (2%, w/w) on their physicochemical and functional properties (e.g., mechanical, barrier, surface properties). The changes in quality of fish fillets were also assessed, such as pH and textural analysis. Based on surface contact angle results, 1.25% CH-0.30% FO-2% GTE formulation (78) was the most promising one due to good coating adhesion ability on fish fillets surface. Also, this formulation showed to be a good barrier to water vapor (2.29 × 10-6 g/(m.s.Pa)) as well as good mechanical properties comparing to other tested formulations. The developed CH-FO-GET coating/film displays properties that allow its use as an environmentally friendly active food packaging system to be applied to Atlantic bonito fillets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Foot Reflexotherapy Induces Analgesia in Elderly Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Pilot Study

Introduction. This study evaluated the effects of foot reflexotherapy on pain and postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain. Design. Randomized, controlled pilot study. Participants (n=20) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: individuals submitted to conventional foot massage (control group) or foot reflexotherapy (RT, intervention group) for a period of 5 weeks. Questionnaires on pain and disability (visual analogue scale [VAS] and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), heart rate variability, and orthostatic balance and baropodometric analysis were assessed at two intervals: before and after intervention. Results. RT group showed statistically significant differences when compared to control group in the following parameters: decrease in VAS scores for pain throughout the study, decrease in parasympathetic activity, and improvement in RMDQ scores. The two groups did not statistically differ in either orthostatic balance or baropodometric analyses. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that foot reflexotherapy induced analgesia but did not affect postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain

Development and characterization of fully hydrogenated soybean oil and high oleic sunflower oil -carotene loaded nanostructured lipid carriers

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have shown great potential as a delivery system for lipophilic bioactive compounds as they provide protection, high water dispersibility, chemical stability, and oral bioavailability. The less compact crystal structure created by high- and low-melting-point lipids has more space for the entrapment of bioactive compounds, such as $\beta$-carotene, the carotenoid with the highest provitamin A activity. The objective of this study was to produce and characterise $\beta$-carotene-loaded NLC. The study assessed the physical and crystallization properties, entrapment efficiency (EE), and loading capacity (LC) of NLC produced with fully hydrogenated soybean oil and high oleic sunflower oil as high- and low-melting-point lipid matrices, respectively, and soy lecithin, Tween 80, and whey protein isolate (WPI) as emulsifiers. WPI promoted the production of NLC with larger particle size, lower physical stability, and lower IE and LC, compared with other emulsifiers. The melting range of the resulting NLC was within a suitable range for incorporation in foods, with a peak melting temperature above body temperature.Fernanda Luisa Lüdtke thanks FAPESP (grants # 18/03172–0, # 19/05176–6, #16/11261–8 and 19/27354–3, São Paulo Research Foundation -FAPESP). Ana Paula Badan Ribeiro thanks the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq) for the productivity grant (303429/2018–6). Lisandro Pavie Cardoso thanks the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq) for financial support (grant #302626/2016–6). Currently, Lisandro Pavie Cardoso, is a retired professor at UNICAMP.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efeito da extração de compostos fenólicos sobre a atividade antioxidante e antibacteriana in vitro de cogumelo-do-sol

RESUMO: O cogumelo-do-sol (Agaricus blazei Murril) é amplamente consumido, por conta de suas propriedades medicinais. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a atividade antioxidante e antibacteriana in vitro dos extratos de cogumelo do sol, mediante diferentes tempos e temperaturas de extração. As amostras foram analisadas quanto à composição centesimal, determinação do teor de fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante e antibacteriana in vitro. Os resultados demonstram que esse tipo de cogumelo aparece como um agente antioxidante potencial, obtendo-se melhores resultados na temperatura de 70ºC durante 60 minutos de extração hidroetanólica. Esse extrato não aponta atividade antibacteriana para os micro-organismos em teste

OXIDATIVE AND MICROBIOLOGICAL STABILITY OF FRESH PORK SAUSAGE WITH ADDED SUN MUSHROOM POWDER

Consumers are becoming more aware of the toxicological implications of artificial additives in foods. Natural antioxidants, in addition to reducing the deleterious effects of lipid oxidation, are currently extremely highly valued. This study aimed to invetigate the effect of addition of sun mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill) powder on the oxidative and microbiological stability of pork sausage during the shelf life. This powder was used at concentrations of 0.0%, 1.0%, 2.0% and 4.0% in the sausages. Analyses of moisture, protein, ash, fat and microbiological analyses were performed on day 0. The sausages were analyzed on day 0 and every seven days in terms of pH, color, TBARS values ​​and microbiological analyses. The results of the proximal composition and microbiological analysis for coagulase positive Staphylococcus, coliforms at 35 ºC and 45 ºC, Salmonella sp and sulfite-reducing Clostridium were consistent with those required by Brazilian legislation. The color of the products was of a decreased redness At the end of the storage period, on the 35th day, the TBARS values for the sausage with 4.0% powder was 0.509±0.12 mg MDA/kg sample and for the control was 1.131±0.12 mg MDA/kg sample. The sun mushroom powder had no effect on microbiological stability. It is concluded that sun mushroom was effective in terms of the oxidative stability of pork sausage when added in powdered form at concentrations of 1.0%, 2.0% and 4.0%

Effect of sun mushroom extract in pork sausage and evaluation of the oxidative and microbiological stability of the product

A prevenção da oxidação lipídica é uma das buscas da indústria cárnea, consequentemente, a pesquisa de antioxidantes naturais foi notavelmente aumentada nos últimos anos. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito do extrato hidroetanólico de cogumelo do sol (Agaricus blazei Murril) sobre a estabilidade oxidativa e microbiológica de linguiça de carne suína durante o armazenamento a 4ºC. O extrato foi utilizado nas concentrações de 0 %, 0,5 %, 1,0 % e 2,0 % (v/p) nas linguiças. Foram realizadas as análises de composição centesimal, pH, cor instrumental (L*, a*, b*, C* e h*), TBARS (Substâncias Reativas ao Ácido Tiobarbitúrico) e análises microbiológicas. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os resultados obtidos na composição centesimal e análises microbiológicas realizadas no dia 0 estão de acordo com o exigido pela legislação brasileira. No 1º dia de armazenamento, o tratamento controle apresentou valor de a* (cor vermelha) maior (p<0,05) do que os demais tratamentos, enquanto que o valor de b* (cor amarela) apresentou aumento (p<0,05) ao longo do período de armazenamento em todos os tratamentos. Ao 21º dia de armazenamento, o valor de TBARS para as linguiças com 2,0 % de extrato foi inferior (0,705±0,01 mg MDA (malonaldeído)/kg de amostra) (p<0,05) ao do controle (1,097±0,11mg MDA/kg de amostra). O extrato não possuiu efeito sobre a estabilidade microbiológica dos produtos. No entanto, o extrato hidroetanólico de cogumelo do sol foi efetivo sobre a estabilidade oxidativa de linguiça de carne suína quando adicionado na concentração de 2,0 %, estendendo a vida útil até 21 dias de armazenamento a 4°C, sendo viável sua aplicação como uma fonte antioxidante natural.  The prevention of lipid oxidation is one of the meat industry’s target and, consequently, the search for natural antioxidants has been increased in last years. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydroethanolic extract from sun mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill) on the oxidative and microbiological stability of pork meat sausage during storage at 4ºC. The extract was added to sausages in 0 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 % and 2.0 % (v/w) concentrations. There was done the proximate composition, pH, instrumental color (L*, a*, b*, C* e h*), TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances) and microbiological analyzes. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, in randomized completely design. The results from proximate composition and microbiological analyzes at day 0 were according to the Brazilian legislation. At 1st day of storage, control treatment showed higher (p<0,05) a* value (red) than the other treatments, while b* value (yellow) has increased (p<0,05) during the storage period in all treatments. At 21st day of storage, TBARS values of sausages with 2.0 % extract addition was lower (0,705±0,01 mg MDA/kg sample) (p<0,05) than the control (1,097±0,11mg MDA/kg sample). The extract has not shown effect on the microbiological stability of the sausages. Nevertheless, the hydroethanolic extract from sun mushroom was effective on the oxidative stability of pork meat sausage when added in a 2.0 % concentration, improving its shelf-life up to 21 days of storage at 4 °C, and it is possible the use as a natural antioxidant source

Gentle Touch Therapy, Pain Relief and Neuroplasticity at Baseline in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized, Multicenter Trial with Six-Month Follow-Up

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is considered a stress-related disorder characterized mainly by chronic widespread pain. Its pathogenesis is unknown, but cumulative evidence points at dysfunctional transmitter systems and inflammatory biomarkers that may underlie the major symptoms of the condition. This study aimed to evaluate pain scores (primary outcome), quality of life, inflammatory biomarkers and neurotransmitter systems in women with FM (secondary outcomes) subjected to gentle touch therapy (GTT) or placebo. Methods: A total of 64 female patients with FM were randomly assigned to two groups, namely GTT (n = 32) or Placebo (n = 32). Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention with six-month follow-up. We measured serum catecholamines (dopamine), indolamines and intermediary metabolites (serotonin or 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA)), as well as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which is a cofactor for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and inflammatory biomarkers in women with FM. A group of healthy individuals with no intervention (control group) was used to compare biochemical measurements. Intervention effects were analyzed using repeated measures (RM) two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test and mixed ANCOVA model with intention to treat. Results: Compared to placebo, the GTT group presented lower pain scores and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels without altering the quality of life of women with FM. Changes in BDNF had a mediating role in pain. Higher baseline serum BDNF and 5-HIAA or those with a history of anxiety disorder showed a higher reduction in pain scores across time. However, women with higher serum dopamine levels at baseline showed a lower effect of the intervention across the observation period revealed by an ANCOVA mixed model. Conclusions: In conclusion, lower pain scores were observed in the GTT group compared to the placebo group without altering the quality of life in women with FM. Reductions in BDNF levels could be a mechanism of FM pain status improvement. In this sense, the present study encourages the use of these GTT techniques as an integrative and complementary treatment of FM

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora