Valorization of wheat bran by subcritical water fractionation

Póster presentado en: 18th European Meeting on Supercritical Fluids. 2021, 4-6 de mayo, Burdeos (online)Wheat is the second most important crop grown in Spain behind barley, with approximately 40% of the national production being cultivated in Castilla y León. The total production in Spain was around 5 Mt in 2019. Wheat Bran (WB) is the main byproduct generated in the wheat milling process, being around the 16% of wheat grain. Part of it is used as animal food, but wheat bran is a source of valuable bioactive compounds and strategies for its valorization should be developed. In this work, subcritical water (scW) has been used to recover such components. scW refers to water in liquid state in the range 100 °C (boiling point) to 374 °C (critical point) under pressure. Most of the water properties change enormously when heated under pressure offering a wide range of possibilities of extraction and fractionation of the different components in WB. Tercerilla WB, kindly provided by the company Emilio Esteban, has been characterized according to the protocols of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL. Two different experiments have been performed in a pilot plant with a 20 L capacity reactor. In the first one, WB with a particle size, tp<0.25 mm, and a WB concentration, c=2.5 %, was treated at 179 ± 4 °C, while in the second experiment, WB with tp<0.5 mm and c=15 % was treated at 167 ± 3 °C. The different liquid fractions obtained with time were analyzed for their monomer and oligomer content of arabinose, xylose and glucose (see graphical abstracts) and the monomeric sugars degradation products furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), and acetic, formic, levulinic and succinic acids. The residue was analyzed for lignin (see graphical abstracts) and elemental analyses. The most important contribution to the sugars yield is due to the presence of oligomers (see Fig. 1), arabinose being the sugar with the highest monomer yield. Also, the lower the WB concentration the higher the yields, probably due to external diffusion limitations due to agitation problems in the reactor. In fact, for c=2.5 %, the total sugars (monomers + oligomers) yield has been very high for all sugars. The high yield evaluated for glucose is due to the high concentration of starch in the WB used, which is solubilized in water under subcritical conditions.JCyL and ERDF for financial support of projects BU301P18 and BU050P20 and to Agencia Estatal de Investigación for financing the project PID2019-104950RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/50110001103

Hypertension in the very old; prevalence, awareness, treatment and control: a cross-sectional population-based study in a Spanish municipality

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Information on hypertension in the very elderly is sparse. Until recently evidence of benefits from pharmacological treatment was inconclusive. We estimated the prevalence of hypertension in subjects aged 80 or more, the proportion of awareness, treatment and control. Explanatory variables associated with good control were also studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross sectional, population-based study, conducted in Martorell, an urban Spanish municipality, in 2005. By simple random sampling from the census, 323 subjects aged 80 or more were included. Patients were visited at home or in the geriatric institution and after giving informed consent, the study variables were collected. These included: supine and standing blood pressure and information about diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. The estimation and 95% confidence interval were obtained and a logistic regression model was used to study explanatory variables associated with blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of hypertension was 72.8% (95%CI: 69.5 – 76.6%) and 93% of the patients were aware of this condition, of whom 96.3% (95%CI: 93.65 – 97.9%) had been prescribed pharmacological treatment and 30.7% (95%CI: 25.8 – 36.1%) had blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. Some of the patients (43%) had one antihypertensive drug and 39.5% had two in combination. Explanatory variables associated with blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg included prescription of a diuretic, OR: 0.31 (95%CI: 0.14 – 0.66), and history of ischemic heart disease, OR: 0.21 (95%CI: 0.1 – 0.47).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of hypertension in population aged 80 or more was over 70%. Most patients were aware of this condition and they had antihypertensive medication prescribed. Approximately one third of treated patients had blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. Patients with heart disease and with diuretics had more frequently blood pressure below this value.</p

Exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke in private vehicles : Measurements in air and dust samples

This study aimed to estimate airborne nicotine concentrations and nicotine, cotinine, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in settled dust from private cars in Spain and the UK. We measured vapor-phase nicotine concentrations in a convenience sample of 45 private cars from Spain (N = 30) and the UK (N = 15) in 2017-2018. We recruited non-smoking drivers (n = 20), smoking drivers who do not smoke inside the car (n = 15), and smoking drivers who smoke inside (n = 10). Nicotine, cotinine, and three TSNAs (NNK, NNN, NNA) were also measured in settled dust in a random subsample (n = 20). We computed medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) of secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) compounds according to the drivers' profile. 24-h samples yielded median airborne nicotine concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ) (IQR: <LOQ - <LOQ) in non-smokers' cars, 0.23 μg/m (IQR:0.18-0.45) in cars of smokers not smoking inside, and 3.53 μg/m, (IQR:1.74-6.38) in cars of smokers smoking inside (p < 0.001). Nicotine concentrations measured only while travelling increased to 21.44 μg/m (IQR:6.60-86.15) in cars of smokers smoking inside. THS concentrations were higher in all cars of smokers, and specially in cars of drivers smoking inside (nicotine: 38.9 μg/g (IQR:19.3-105.7); NNK: 28.5 ng/g (IQR:26.6-70.2); NNN: 23.7 ng/g (IQR:14.3-55.3)), THS concentrations being up to six times those in non-smokers' cars. All cars of smokers had measurable SHS and THS pollution, the exposure levels markedly higher in vehicles of drivers where smoking took place. Our results evidence the need for policies to prohibit smoking in vehicles, but also urge for more comprehensive strategies aiming towards the elimination of tobacco consumption

Abordando la exposición a las emisiones del tabaco y de los cigarrillos electrónicos: protocolo del proyecto TackSHS

Objective: The TackSHS project aims to comprehensively elucidate the impact that exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) from cigarettes and second-hand aerosols (SHA) from electronic cigarettes have on the respiratory health of the European population according to socioeconomic characteristics and other determinants. Method: The TackSHS project involves a series of coordinated studies carried out by 11 academic and public health organisations from six European countries. The project will investigate: a) the determinants of SHS and SHA exposure assessed at the individual level (surveys on representative general population samples) and in common environments (environmental sampling in specific settings); b) the overall disease burden, mortality and morbidity attributable to such exposure; and c) its economic impact in terms of direct health care costs. The project will also examine specific acute respiratory health changes in healthy individuals and patients with respiratory diseases exposed to SHS and SHA. In addition, the project will examine the effectiveness of a novel intervention to reduce SHS exposure in households where smoking is permitted. All these studies are inter-related and involve collaborative coordination among the participant organisations. Conclusion: The comprehensive, integrated approach of the TackSHS project will enable a significant step forward from the current status quo in the understanding of the impact of SHS and SHA exposure on health and provide the basis for health policy recommendations to help European countries to further reduce the harm caused by SHS and SHA exposure

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome: insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Contains fulltext : 218568.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 >/= 0.60 during hyperoxemia). RESULTS: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. TRIAL REGISTRATION: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073

Seguimiento de las guías españolas para el manejo del asma por el médico de atención primaria: un estudio observacional ambispectivo

Objetivo Evaluar el grado de seguimiento de las recomendaciones de las versiones de la Guía española para el manejo del asma (GEMA 2009 y 2015) y su repercusión en el control de la enfermedad. Material y métodos Estudio observacional y ambispectivo realizado entre septiembre del 2015 y abril del 2016, en el que participaron 314 médicos de atención primaria y 2.864 pacientes. Resultados Utilizando datos retrospectivos, 81 de los 314 médicos (25, 8% [IC del 95%, 21, 3 a 30, 9]) comunicaron seguir las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2009. Al inicio del estudio, 88 de los 314 médicos (28, 0% [IC del 95%, 23, 4 a 33, 2]) seguían las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2015. El tener un asma mal controlada (OR 0, 19, IC del 95%, 0, 13 a 0, 28) y presentar un asma persistente grave al inicio del estudio (OR 0, 20, IC del 95%, 0, 12 a 0, 34) se asociaron negativamente con tener un asma bien controlada al final del seguimiento. Por el contrario, el seguimiento de las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2015 se asoció de manera positiva con una mayor posibilidad de que el paciente tuviera un asma bien controlada al final del periodo de seguimiento (OR 1, 70, IC del 95%, 1, 40 a 2, 06). Conclusiones El escaso seguimiento de las guías clínicas para el manejo del asma constituye un problema común entre los médicos de atención primaria. Un seguimiento de estas guías se asocia con un control mejor del asma. Existe la necesidad de actuaciones que puedan mejorar el seguimiento por parte de los médicos de atención primaria de las guías para el manejo del asma. Objective: To assess the degree of compliance with the recommendations of the 2009 and 2015 versions of the Spanish guidelines for managing asthma (Guía Española para el Manejo del Asma [GEMA]) and the effect of this compliance on controlling the disease. Material and methods: We conducted an observational ambispective study between September 2015 and April 2016 in which 314 primary care physicians and 2864 patients participated. Results: Using retrospective data, we found that 81 of the 314 physicians (25.8%; 95% CI 21.3–30.9) stated that they complied with the GEMA2009 recommendations. At the start of the study, 88 of the 314 physicians (28.0%; 95% CI 23.4–33.2) complied with the GEMA2015 recommendations. Poorly controlled asthma (OR, 0.19; 95% CI 0.13–0.28) and persistent severe asthma at the start of the study (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.12–0.34) were negatively associated with having well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up. In contrast, compliance with the GEMA2015 recommendations was positively associated with a greater likelihood that the patient would have well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.40–2.06). Conclusions: Low compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma is a common problem among primary care physicians. Compliance with these guidelines is associated with better asthma control. Actions need to be taken to improve primary care physician compliance with the asthma management guidelines

Changes of the mucosal N3 and N6 fatty acid status occur early in the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence

Despite data favouring a role of dietary fat in colonic carcinogenesis, no study has focused on tissue n3 and n6 fatty acid (FA) status in human colon adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Thus, FA profile was measured in plasma phospholipids of patients with colorectal cancer (n = 22), sporadic adenoma (n = 27), and normal colon (n = 12) (control group). Additionally, mucosal FAs were assessed in both diseased and normal mucosa of cancer (n = 15) and adenoma (n = 21) patients, and from normal mucosa of controls (n = 8). There were no differences in FA profile of both plasma phospholipids and normal mucosa, between adenoma and control patients. There were considerable differences, however, in FAs between diseased and paired normal mucosa of adenoma patients, with increases of linoleic (p = 0.02), dihomogammalinolenic (p = 0.014), and eicosapentaenoic (p = 0.012) acids, and decreases of alpha linolenic (p = 0.001) and arachidonic (p = 0.02) acids in diseased mucosa. A stepwise reduction of eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations in diseased mucosa from benign adenoma to the most advanced colon cancer was seen (p = 0.009). Cancer patients showed lower alpha linolenate (p = 0.002) and higher dihomogammalinolenate (p = 0.003) in diseased than in paired normal mucosa. In conclusion changes in tissue n3 and n6 FA status might participate in the early phases of the human colorectal carcinogenesis

Microwave-assisted extraction of pyrethroid insecticides from soil

An analytical method has been developed for the microwave-assisted extraction of synthetic pyrethroid insecticide residues in soils and their determination by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (ECD) and mass spectrometry (MS) detector. Clean soil samples were spiked with nine pyrethroids: tetramethrin, cyfluthrin, flucythrinate, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin and fluvalinate were used for this study. Concentration levels were 50 ng g−1 for all the compounds studied except to sumitrin for which a 10 μg g−1 was evaluated. Two grams of sample were treated in a closed PTFE reactor with 10 mL toluene and 1 mL water and irradiated at 700 W during 9 min. The toluene extract was evaporated and reconstituted in 2 mL hexane and copper wires added in order to remove sulphur interferences. Clean-up with 2 g of florisil and elution with 20 mL ethyl acetate:hexane 33% (v/v) was performed. Best chromatographic conditions were established for GC-ECD analysis for routine analysis and GC-NCI-MS for confirmation. Recovery yields of spiked soils were from 97 to 106% for eight of the pyrethroid and 86% for the tetramethrin, with relative standard deviations from 1 to 7%. Results were comparable with those found by ultrasonic extraction in the analysis of real samples and limit of detection values obtained were in the range from 1 to 200 ng/g for ECD and from 0.3 to 2 ng/g for NCI-MS