Profile, antioxidant potential, and applicability of phenolic compounds extracted from Spirulina platensis

This work aimed at an investigation of the profile of free phenolic compounds (PC) of Spirulina platensis and assesses their antioxidant potential, applying them as a natural conservative in minimally processed apples. The phenolic extract showed 396 &µg g-1 gallic acid, 347 µg g-1 of caffeic acid, 54 µg g-1 salicylic acid and 3.5 µg g-1 trans-1-cinmamic a total of 608 µg PC g-1 of S. platensis. With the use of PC, it was possible to inhibit the radical DPPH over 180 min with IC50 of PC 202 µg mL-1. The inhibition of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase of PC were 19.9 and 9.7%. In addition, verifying the constants Km and Vmax, it was concluded that  inhibition of the peroxidase and polyphenol occurs in an uncompetitive manner. Application of crude extract of PC under minimally processed apples showed  inhibition of browning by 40%. The general acceptance of apples was not affected by the addition of PC.Key words: Apple, enzymatic browning, peroxidase, phenols, polyphenol oxidase

Association of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency with Risk of Incidence of Disability in Basic Activities of Daily Living in Adults >50 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency compromises muscle function and is related to the etiology of several clinical conditions that can contribute to the development of disability. However, there are few epidemiological studies investigating the association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of disability. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with the incidence of disability in basic activities of daily living (BADL) and to verify whether there are sex differences in this association. METHODS: A 4-y follow-up study was conducted involving individuals aged 50 y or older who participated in ELSA (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing). The sample consisted of 4814 participants free of disability at baseline according to the modified Katz Index. Vitamin D was assessed by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and the participants were classified as sufficient (>50 nmol/L), insufficient (>30 to ≤50 nmol/L), or deficient (≤30 nmol/L). Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics were also investigated. BADL were re-evaluated after 2 and 4 y of follow-up. The report of any difficulty to perform ≥1 BADL was considered as an incident case of disability. Poisson models stratified by sex and controlled for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics were carried out. RESULTS: After 4-y follow-up, deficient serum 25(OH)D was a risk factor for the incidence of BADL disability in both women (IRR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.03) and men (IRR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.02). However, insufficient serum 25(OH)D was not a risk factor for the incidence of BADL disability in either men or women. CONCLUSIONS: Independently of sex, deficient serum 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with increased risk of incidence of BADL disability in adults >50 y old and should be an additional target of clinical strategies to prevent disability in these populations

Hygienic quality of ready-to-eat salads sold in the street and a modern restaurant in Lomé, TOGO

Poisoning following salads consumption was often reported in Lomé. This study was carried out to evaluate contamination of salads sold in Lomé. Sixty salad samples from modern restaurant (Domino), seventy from street sellers and forty of fresh vegetables from two markets were randomly collected. Microbiological quality of samples was examined on the basis of AFNOR methods and criteria. Salad selling occurs in room temperature. That modern restaurant uses cold to preserve foods. Microbial analyzes revealed that, Total viable count (TVC) load ranged from 2.15x104 – 9.2x1010 and 1.8x103 – 2.7x107 with 10% and 86.66% of satisfactory quality samples respectively for Domino and Street salads. Total and thermo-tolerant coliforms load ranged from 60-3.4x106 and 0-6.2x103 respectively for street salads with 14.28% and 57.15% of satisfactory samples. Domino samples located between 0-7x103 and 0-2.5x103 with 96.66% and 81.33% of conformity respectively. E. coli and S. aureus were isolated (0-2.5x103 and 0-103) respectively with 77.14% and 84.28% of satisfactory samples for street salads. These bacteria did not induce any conform samples. Salmonella spp were not found in salads and raw vegetable. Application of good hygiene practices rules would help to reduce disease risk related to the presence of pathogenic germs like E. coli and S. aureus.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Food poisoning, Vegetable food, microbiological safet

Dynapenia, abdominal obesity or both: which accelerates the gait speed decline most?

OBJECTIVE: to investigate whether the combination of dynapenia and abdominal obesity is worse than these two conditions separately regarding gait speed decline over time. METHODS: a longitudinal study was conducted involving 2,294 individuals aged 60 years or older free of mobility limitation at baseline (gait speed >0.8 m/s) who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Dynapenia was determined as a grip strength 102 cm for men and >88 cm for women. The participants were divided into four groups: non-dynapenic/non-abdominal obese (ND/NAO); only abdominal obese (AO); only dynapenic (D) and dynapenic/abdominal obese (D/AO). Generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse gait speed decline (m/s) as a function of dynapenia and abdominal obesity status over an 8-year follow-up period. RESULTS: over time, only the D/AO individuals had a greater gait speed decline (-0.013 m/s per year, 95% CI: -0.024 to -0.002; P < 0.05) compared to ND/NAO individuals. Neither dynapenia nor abdominal obesity only was associated with gait speed decline. CONCLUSION: dynapenic abdominal obesity is associated with accelerated gait speed decline and is, therefore, an important modifiable condition that should be addressed in clinical practice through aerobic and strength training for the prevention of physical disability in older adults

Gender differences in the association between adverse events in childhood or adolescence and the risk of premature mortality

To examine, by gender, the relationship between adverse events in childhood or adolescence and the increased risk of early mortality (before 80 years). The study sample included 941 participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging who died between 2007 and 2018. Data on socioeconomic status, infectious diseases, and parental stress in childhood or adolescence were collected at baseline (2006). Logistic regression models were adjusted by socioeconomic, behavioral and clinical variables. Having lived with only one parent (OR 3.79; p = 0.01), overprotection from the father (OR 1.12; p = 0.04) and having had an infectious disease in childhood or adolescence (OR 2.05; p = 0.01) were risk factors for mortality before the age of 80 in men. In women, overprotection from the father (OR 1.22; p < 0.01) was the only risk factor for mortality before the age of 80, whereas a low occupation of the head of the family (OR 0.58; p = 0.04) and greater care from the mother in childhood or adolescence (OR 0.86; p = 0.03) were protective factors. Independently of one’s current characteristics, having worse socioeconomic status and health in childhood or adolescence increased the risk of early mortality in men. Parental overprotection increased the risk of early mortality in both sexes, whereas maternal care favored longevity in women

Evaluation of the online management course from the perspective of former students

Objective To evaluate the online course from the perspective of e-learners as well as the relation between variables. Method A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory study. Results After three years, the satisfaction rates in the three listed categories presented an average rate higher than 75%. The coefficients indicated a high consistency of the questionnaire. Considering the overall rates in the three years period, the Instructor Performance category presented the highest rate. Strong associations between Self-Assessment and Instructor Performance, Self-Evaluation and Program of the Course and Instructor performance and Program of the course were identified. There was no association between the three categories mentioned with any other variables existing in the study. Conclusion E-learners expressed satisfaction with the course that means favored the interaction and the promotion of collective knowledge in nursing management. Also aspects need to be improved, especially the training of the instructor to mediate discussions and encourage student involvement throughout the course.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is slowness a better discriminator of disability than frailty in older adults?

Background:The trajectory of incident disability that occurs simultaneously with changes in frailty status, as well as how much each frailty component contributes to this process in the different sexes, are unknown. The objective of this study is to analyse the trajectory of the incidence of disability on basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) as a function of the frailty changes and their components by sex over time. // Methods: Longitudinal analyses of 1522 and 1548 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing study participants without BADL and IADL disability, respectively, and without frailty at baseline. BADL and IADL were assessed using the Katz and Lawton Scales and frailty by phenotype at 4, 8, and 12 years of follow-up. Generalized mixed linear models were calculated for the incidence of BADL and IADL disability, as an outcome, using changes in the state of frailty and its components, as the exposure, by sex in models fully adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioural, biochemical, and clinical characteristics. // Results: The mean age, at baseline, of the 1522 eligible individuals free of BADL and free of frailty was 68.1 ± 6.2 years (52.1% women) and of the 1548 individuals free IADL and free frailty was 68.1 ± 6.1 years (50.6% women). Women who became pre-frail had a higher risk of incidence of disability for BADL and IADL when compared with those who remained non-frail (P < 0.05). Men and women who became frail had a higher risk of incidence of disability regarding BADL and IADL when compared with those who remained non-frail (P < 0.05). Slowness was the only component capable of discriminating the incidence of disability regarding BADL and IADL when compared with those who remained without slowness (P < 0.05). Weakness and low physical activity level in men and exhaustion in women also discriminated the incidence of disability (P < 0.05). // Conclusions: Slowness is the main warning sign of functional decline in older adults. As its evaluation is easy, fast, and accessible, screening for this frailty component should be prioritized in different clinical contexts so that rehabilitation strategies can be developed to avoid the onset of disability