Effect of Dewaxed Coffee on Gastroesophageal Symptoms in Patients with {GERD}: A Randomized Pilot Study

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is multifactorial pathogenesis characterized by the abnormal reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Symptoms are worse after the ingestion of certain foods, such as coffee. Hence, a randomized pilot study conducted on 40 Italian subjects was assessed to verify the effect of standard (SC) and dewaxed coffee (DC) consumption on gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal diseases. The assessment of patient diaries highlighted a significant percentage reduction of symptoms frequency when consuming DC and a significant increase in both heartburn-free and regurgitation-free days. Consequentially, patients had a significant increase of antacid-free days during the DC assumption. Moreover, the polyphenolic profile of coffee pods was ascertained through UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis. Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) were the most abundant investigated compounds with a concentration level ranging between 7.316 (DC) and 6.721 mg/g (SC). Apart from CGAs, caffeine was quantified at a concentration level of 5.691 mg/g and 11.091 for DC and SC, respectively. While still preliminary, data obtained from the present pilot study provide promising evidence for the efficacy of DC consumption in patients with GERD. Therefore, this treatment might represent a feasible way to make coffee more digestible and better tolerated

COVID-19 atypical Parsonage-Turner syndrome: a case report

Background Neurological manifestations of Sars-CoV-2 infection have been described since March 2020 and include both central and peripheral nervous system manifestations. Neurological symptoms, such as headache or persistent loss of smell and taste, have also been documented in COVID-19 long-haulers. Moreover, long lasting fatigue, mild cognitive impairment and sleep disorders appear to be frequent long term neurological manifestations after hospitalization due to COVID-19. Less is known in relation to peripheral nerve injury related to Sars-CoV-2 infection. Case presentation We report the case of a 47-year-old female presenting with a unilateral chest pain radiating to the left arm lasting for more than two months after recovery from Sars-CoV-2 infection. After referral to our post-acute outpatient service for COVID-19 long haulers, she was diagnosed with a unilateral, atypical, pure sensory brachial plexus neuritis potentially related to COVID-19, which occurred during the acute phase of a mild Sars-CoV-2 infection and persisted for months after resolution of the infection. Conclusions We presented a case of atypical Parsonage-Turner syndrome potentially triggered by Sars-CoV-2 infection, with symptoms and repercussion lasting after viral clearance. A direct involvement of the virus remains uncertain, and the physiopathology is unclear. The treatment of COVID-19 and its long-term consequences represents a relatively new challenge for clinicians and health care providers. A multidisciplinary approach to following-up COVID-19 survivors is strongly advised

Consistency of impact assessment protocols for non-native species

Standardized tools are needed to identify and prioritize the most harmful non-native species (NNS). A plethora of assessment protocols have been developed to evaluate the current and potential impacts of non-native species, but consistency among them has received limited attention. To estimate the consistency across impact assessment protocols, 89 specialists in biological invasions used 11 protocols to screen 57 NNS (2614 assessments). We tested if the consistency in the impact scoring across assessors, quantified as the coefficient of variation (CV), was dependent on the characteristics of the protocol, the taxonomic group and the expertise of the assessor. Mean CV across assessors was 40%, with a maximum of 223%. CV was lower for protocols with a low number of score levels, which demanded high levels of expertise, and when the assessors had greater expertise on the assessed species. The similarity among protocols with respect to the final scores was higher when the protocols considered the same impact types. We conclude that all protocols led to considerable inconsistency among assessors. In order to improve consistency, we highlight the importance of selecting assessors with high expertise, providing clear guidelines and adequate training but also deriving final decisions collaboratively by consensus

New diagnostic criteria of acute rheumatic fever: prevalence of silent carditis in a pediatric population

Acute rheumatic fever and its sequel, chronic rheumatic heart disease, are important global health issues with an annual incidence of about 500.000 new cases and a prevalence of 34 million people worldwide affected by rheumatic heart disease. During the 20th century the incidence of ARF and the prevalence declined substantially in Europe, North America, and developed nations in other geographic locations. In Italy the incidence is about 4,1:100.000. Acute rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory response to group A streptococcal infection, which typically affects children and occurs two or three weeks after a throat infection. Although arthritis is the most common sign, carditis which commonly affects the mitral and aortic valves, is the most specific and severe one, for the eventual risk of chronic rheumatic cardiopathy. Other less common clinical features include chorea, rash (erythema marginatum), and subcutaneous nodules. Diagnosis requires demonstration of the presence of major and minor criteria and laboratory evidence of a recent streptococcal throat infection. In the 1992 AHA revised Jones criteria statement, the diagnosis of carditis was clinical, based on the auscultation of typical murmurs that indicate mitral or aortic valve regurgitation. The Australian and New Zealand Diagnostic Criteria, published on Circulation in 2015, extend the 1992 Jones criteria for acute rheumatic fever by including echocardiographic evidence of silent carditis and a wider spectrum of joint manifestations as major criteria. Subclinical carditis is characterised by the absence of classic auscultatory findings of valvular dysfunction and the by the echocardiographic evidence of mitral or aortic valvulitis

Espresso coffee design based on non-monotonic granulometric distribution of aromatic profile

Coffee beverages may be obtained using several extraction methods, among which espresso coffee (EC) represents now a worldwide adopted system. Recent advances in coffee grinding equipment allow today to achieve a detailed control of granulometric distribution, and the grinding process is an essential step of coffee production cycle both for the aromatic profile composition and for the chemical properties of the beverage (Severini, 2015). The comminution process consists of the breaking down particles into smaller fragments; as well-known, its main objective is to increase the overall particle surface area exposed to water leading to a more efficient extraction of soluble substances (Illy, 2005a). Basically, the coffee brewing process includes two steps: a washing phase concerning the snapshot dissolution of free solubles at the particle surface followed by diffusion phase of solubles within the porous particles (Spiro 1992, Baggenstoss 2008). The variability in particle size distribution on the quality of EC has been studied by various authors. Severini et al. has tackled the influence of the grinding level on the aromatic profiles and chemical attributes (percolation time, caffeine content, pH and titratable acidity) as a consequence of changes in the microstructural properties of the coffee cake. Generally speaking such results would imply that the final effect in terms of aromatic compounds extraction follows a monotonic law respect to granulometric size. This result is true in an average sense but it cannot be given for granted for any aromatic compounds if we refine the resolution of granulometric class. The reasons for which some aromatic compounds do not follow the supposed trend (the lower the grain size, the higher the aromatic compound content) can be most probably related to the internal distribution of precursors and to the different non-isotropic roasting grade of the bean, where the external part undergoes to an increased thermal load. This will change at the same time the kinetics and formation of aromatic compounds, and the mechanical properties as well, strictly correlated to the way the bean is crashed during the grinding phase and consequently to the granulometric distribution of different parts of the coffee bean. Results presented in this work allow to correlate choices in terms of granulometric distribution to characteristics aromatic compounds, in order to enhance specific flavors in espresso coffee

Volatile compounds in espresso resulting from a refined selection of particle size of coffee powder

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) influence significantly sensory properties of espresso coffee (EC). However, some of these chemicals, such as furans reported to have a negative impact on human health. This study aimed to monitor 21 key main VOCs of coffee brew and two undesirable compounds such as furan and 2-methylfuran in Robusta and Arabica EC samples as a function of specific particle size fractions (F1 <200, 200 <300, 300 <425, F4 >425 μm). The evolution of the volatile compounds was studied by HS-SPME-GC/MS. The results showed that volatile compounds are released differently in the EC depending on coffee species and the specific particle size. In Robusta ECs the highest concentration of volatile compounds was obtained using 200 < 300 μm except for furan, 2-methylfuran and 2,5-dimethylfuran. Arabica ECs resulted particle size-independent for aldehydes, except for hexanal, phenolic compounds, and some furans and non-monotonic with the highest amount in the 300 < 425 for the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. With regard to furan and 2-methylfuran monotonic increase was observed along the increasing particle size degree. The HCA analysis separated in four different groups the coffees particle size; Arabica-F1, Arabica-F3 and Robusta-F3 formed the first group, the second included Arabica-F2 and Arabica-F4, the third group consisted of Robusta-F1 and Robusta-F4 and the last one included only Robusta-F2. These results can help to design a-priori unique blends based on appropriate combinations of particle sizes and coffee species to produce an EC with higher aromatic levels while simultaneously lowering levels of furan and 2-methylfuran

Sea urchins and mechanically adaptable connective tissues: alternative sources for biomaterial design

Sea urchins, as all echinoderms (starfish, sea cucumber, etc.), possess connective tissues that undergo drastic changes in their mechanical properties (Mutable Collagenous Tissues: MCTs). Mammalian connective tissues rarely undergo significant changes within a physiological timescale, the only major exception being the destiffening then restiffening of the mammalian uterine cervix at the end of pregnancy. In contrast, MCT can switch reversibly between stiff and compliant conditions in timescales of seconds to minutes following nervous stimulation. Considering this, MCT could be an inspiration for new matrices capable of changing their molecular and structural conformation in response to external stimuli. Furthermore, elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying MCT mutability could have implications for veterinary and biomedical science, particularly regarding the pathological plasticization or stiffening of connective tissue structures. The MIMESIS (Marine Invertebrate Models & Engineered Substrates for Innovative bio-Scaffolds) project has being developed within this scientific context. This contribution presents a review of the distinctive features of MCT together with the first results aimed to the production of MCT-derived matrices as cell culture /tissue regeneration substrates