Study of the release of limonene present in chitosan films enriched with bergamot oil in food simulants

[EN] Chitosan films containing different concentrations of bergamot oil (BO) were obtained and the migration of limonene, the major oil component, to five liquid food simulants (aqueous solutions with 0%, 10%, 50% and 95% of ethanol and isooctane) was studied at 20 degrees C. The losses of BO and limonene during the film drying were also quantified. The release kinetics of limonene from chitosan matrix was described using an empirical model which relates the reduced concentration loss of limonene and the square root of time. The results show that kinetic constants for all films increased exponentially when the ethanol concentration increased in the aqueous system and were slightly greater when the film thickness was lower. Composite films remain intact in isooctane CH-BO and no release of limonene was observed. Hydration of the film to promote molecular mobility was essential to ensure the compound release. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The author L. Sanchez-Gonzalez thanks the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Spain) for a FPU Grant (AP2006-026).Sánchez González, L.; Cháfer Nácher, MT.; González Martínez, MC.; Chiralt, A.; Desobry, S. (2011). Study of the release of limonene present in chitosan films enriched with bergamot oil in food simulants. Journal of Food Engineering. 105(1):138-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2011.02.016S138143105

Physical and antioxidant properties of chitosan and methylcellulose based films containing resveratrol

[EN] New trends in edible films focus on the improvement of their functionality through the incorporation of active compounds, such as antimicrobial or antioxidant agents. Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in a variety of plant species, such as grapes, and could be used for minimizing or preventing lipid oxidation in food products, retarding the formation of oxidation products, maintaining nutritional quality and prolonging the food shelf life. The aim of this work was to develop and characterize two different polymeric composite films (made with chitosan (CH) and methylcellulose (MC)) containing different amounts of resveratrol. This compound could be incorporated efficiently into both films, but provoke structural changes in the matrices, which became less stretchable (65-70% reduction of deformation at break at the greatest resveratrol content) and resistant to fracture (26 and 54% reduction of tensile at break for MC and CH, respectively, at the greatest resveratrol content) more opaque (significant reduction of the internal transmittance) and less glossy (about 60-65% reduction of gloss at the greatest resveratrol content). Film barrier properties were hardly improved by the presence of resveratrol; water vapour and oxygen permeability tend to slightly decrease when resveratrol was incorporated into both polymers. Composite films showed antioxidant activity, which was proportional to the resveratrol concentration in the film. None of the films showed antimicrobial activity against Penicillium italicum and Botrytis cinerea. Thus, these films could be applied to food products which are sensitive to oxidative processes to prolong their shelf life. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación throughout the project AGL2010-20694.Pastor Navarro, C.; Sánchez González, L.; Chiralt, A.; Cháfer Nácher, MT.; González Martínez, MC. (2013). Physical and antioxidant properties of chitosan and methylcellulose based films containing resveratrol. Food Hydrocolloids. 30(1):272-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2012.05.026S27228030

Efectividad de la inclusión de restricción de flujo en rehabilitación de reconstrucción de ligamento cruzado anterior. Revisión sistemática

Introducción. La rotura de Ligamento Cruzado Anterior (LCA) es una importante patología que ocurre a nivel global. La prevalencia ha aumentado considerablemente en las últimas décadas y actualmente es uno de los mayores problemas en la población que practica deporte. Una alternativa de entrenamiento que está adquiriendo relevancia es el entrenamiento con restricción de flujo, ya que permite obtener dichas ganancias de fuerza e hipertrofia con menor carga y menor estrés mecánico.Material y métodos. El presente trabajo es una revisión sistemática en la que se sintetizó la evidencia disponible sobre añadir restricción de flujo en el ejercicio terapéutico (ET) en pacientes con reconstrucción de LCA. Resultados. En la revisión sistemática se encontraron un total de 25 artículos de los cuales solo 6 cumplían los criterios de selección. Algunos de los estudios mostraron mejoras al aplicar este tipo de intervención en alguna de sus variables, otros muchos no encontraron hallazgos significativos sobre la inclusión de esta técnica. Conclusiones. La inclusion de BFR a un plan de rehabilitación de reconstrucción de LCA puede ser un tratamiento beneficioso ya que es capaz de mejorar la fuerza y la hipetrofia muscular. Aún así, no existe un protocolo estandarizado de intervención.Palabras clave: "ligamento cruzado anterior", "ejercicio terapéutico", "reconstrucción", "restricción de flujo sanguíneo".<br /

La conciliación : un reto para las familias de madres solas por elección

La conciliación entre la vida familiar, laboral y personal constituye en el siglo XXI uno de los grandes retos para las familias y en especial para aquellas en las que está al frente una madre sola. Con el objeto de conocer cómo abordan la tarea de la conciliación las mujeres que han decidido tener un hijo o hija en solitario, realizamos entrevistas en profundidad a 23 madres solas por elección. De ellas 16 eran adoptivas, 4 habían recurrido a la reproducción asistida y 3 tuvieron a sus criaturas de modo biológico, a partir de una relación sin compromiso. Entre las distintas áreas exploradas en el estudio, se efectuó un análisis cualitativo, partiendo de la Teoría Fundamentada, de los modos en que estas madres vivían las dificultades de conciliación, así como de las estrategias que desplegaban para facilitarla. Los resultados revelan que, para la mayoría de estas mujeres, las tensiones de conciliación entre vida familiar y laboral constituyen la principal fuente de estrés, aunque a la vez reconocen disponer de estrategias diversas que la facilitan como cuidados informales y, en menor medida, cuidados formales. Así mismo, la vida personal o bien queda prácticamente relegada o bien se reconvierte hacia el ocio en casa

Estrés en graduados y técnicos en cuidados auxiliares de enfermería en las áreas quirúrgicas hospitalarias

Objectives: To analyse the stress level in Nursing Graduates and Healthcare Assistants in surgical areas of the Public Hospitals in Gran Canaria. Material and Methods: Quantitative, descriptive/observational study of cross-sectional prevalence in 143 subjects (Nursing Degree and Healthcare Assistant, henceforth (H.C.A.), in the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, henceforth U.H.G.C. Dr. Negrín and Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Canarias(Children and maternity care hospital of the Canary Islands), henceforth the C.H.U. Insular-Materno Infantil de Canarias, in the surgery services/operating rooms, Trauma Resuscitation Unit (TRU) , Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (P.A.C.U.), and Major Outpatient Surgery (M.O.S.), from 2016 to 2019. By means of an anonymous and voluntary self-completion survey based on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) from Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., and Mermelstein, R. It was distributed in 14 items, a questionnaire of 19 demographic and socio-labour items was also carried out, applying a cross-sectional design of dependent and independent variables.Results: They show a stress level with a median of 22%. The mean is 21.79, the standard deviation is 7.26, the 25th percentile results in 17%, the 50th percentile is 22% and the 75th percentile is 39%. Total reliability is 0.86 using Cronbach's Alpha.Conclusions: H.C.A. workers and Nursing Graduates from the aforementioned units show a moderate level of stress, but institutions should intervene to minimize it as much as possible.Objetivos: Analizar el nivel de estrés que presentan los Graduados de Enfermería y los Técnicos en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería en las áreas quirúrgicas de los Hospitales Públicos de Gran Canaria.Material y método: Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo/observacional de prevalencia transversal, de 143 sujetos (Grado de Enfermería y Técnicos en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería, en adelante T.C.A.E.), en Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, en adelante H.U.G.C. Dr. Negrín, y Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Canarias, en adelante C.H.U. Insular-Materno Infantil de Canarias, en los servicios de Quirófano, Unidad de Reanimación y Cuidados Críticos (R.E.A.), Unidad de Recuperación Post-anestésica (U.R.P.A.) y Cirugía Mayor Ambulatoria (C.M.A.), durante los años 2016-2019. Mediante una encuesta autocumplimentada de carácter anónimo y voluntario formado por la Escala de estrés percibido (PSS) de Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., y Mermelstein, R. Dispuesta en 14 ítems, además se realizó un cuestionario de 19 ítems de carácter demográfico y sociolaboral, efectuándose cruce de variables dependientes e independientes.Resultados: Presentan un nivel de estrés con una mediana de 22%. La media es 21.79, la desviación típica 7.26, el percentil 25 da como resultado 17%, el percentil 50 es 22% y el percentil 75 es 39%. La fiabilidad total da como resultado 0.86 en el Alfa de Cronbach.Conclusiones: Los trabajadores TCAE y Graduados de Enfermería, de las unidades mencionadas presentan un nivel moderado de estrés, pero las instituciones deberían intervenir para minimizarlo lo máximo posible

The Tetrahymena metallothionein gene family: twenty-one new cDNAs, molecular characterization, phylogenetic study and comparative analysis of the gene expression under different abiotic stressors

Background: Ciliate metallothioneins (MTs) are included in family 7 of the MT superfamily. This family has been divided into two main subfamilies: 7a or CdMTs and 7b or CuMTs. All ciliate MTs reported have been isolated from different Tetrahymena species and present unique features with regard to standard MTs. Likewise, an expression analysis has been carried out on some of MT genes under metal stress, corroborating their classification into two subfamilies. Results: We isolated 21 new cDNAs from different Tetrahymena species to obtain a wider view of the biodiversity of these conserved genes. Structural analysis (cysteine patterns) and an updated phylogenetic study both corroborated the previous classification into two subfamilies. A new CuMT from a Tetrahymena-related species Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was also included in this general analysis. We detected a certain tendency towards the presentation of a CdMT tri-modular structure in Borealis group species with respect to Australis group. We report for the first time a semi-complete paralog duplication of a CdMT gene originating a new CdMT gene isoform in T. malaccensis. An asymmetry of the codon usage for glutamine residues was detected between Cd- and CuMTs, and the phylogenetic implications are discussed. A comparative gene expression analysis of several MT genes by qRTPCR revealed differential behavior among them under different abiotic stressors in the same Tetrahymena species. Conclusions: The Tetrahymena metallothionein family represents a quite conserved proteinstructure group with unique features with respect to standard MTs. Both Cd- and CuMT subfamilies present very defined and differentiated characteristics at several levels: cysteine patterns, modular structure, glutamine codon usage and gene expression under metal stress, among others. Gene duplication through evolution seems to be the major genetic mechanism for creating new MT gene isoforms and increasing their functional diversity

Comentarios a la iniciativa legislativa popular de gestación subrogada

La proposición de Ley para la legalización y regulación de la Gestaciónsubrogada define la Gestación por subrogación como “la técnica de reproducciónhumana asistida por la que una mujer acepta ser gestante mediante cualquiera de lastécnicas de reproducción humana asistida contempladas en la ley y da a luz el hijo deotra persona o personas (...

High resolution and sensitivity gamma camera with active septa. A first Monte Carlo study

[EN] Gamma cameras are of great interest due to their high potential in the field of Nuclear Medicine Imaging. They allow for an early diagnosis of reduced size tumors, and also for a wide variety of preclinical studies with the aim of designing more effective treatments against cancer. In this work we propose a significantly improved multi-pinhole collimator gamma camera and perform a first Monte Carlo analysis of its characteristics. Maintaining the configuration of a multi-pinhole collimator with a high degree of overlapping (thus with a high sensitivity), we add a new element, an active septa, that besides acting as a collimator, is able to measure the impact coordinates of the incident photon. This way one is able to unambiguously identify through which pinhole any gamma ray passes before being detected. The result is a high sensitivity and resolution multi-pinhole gamma camera with an arbitrarily large field of view. As a consequence, the final reconstructed image does not suffer from the undesired artifacts or truncation associated to the multiplexing phenomenon. In this study we focus on the development of a system able to visualize in 3D tumors, nodes and metastasis in real time in the operating room with very low dose. We also briefly analyse and propose a novel design for a Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography system.This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 695536). This work was supported in part by the Spanish Government Grants Generalitat Valenciana, APOSTD/2019/086 and TEC2016-79884-C2 and RTC-2016-5186-1.Ilisie, V.; Moliner, L.; Oliver-Gil, S.; Sánchez Martínez, F.; González Martínez, AJ.; Seimetz, M.; Rodríguez Álvarez, MJ.... (2019). High resolution and sensitivity gamma camera with active septa. A first Monte Carlo study. Scientific Reports. 9:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54934-0S199Mok, G. S. P., Tsui, B. M. W. & Beekman, F. J. The effects of object activity distribution on multiplexing multi-pinhole SPECT. Phys. Med. Biol. 56, 2635–2650 (2011).Johnson, C., Shokouhi, S. & Peterson, T. E. Reducing Multiplexing artifacts in Multi-Pinhole SPECT with a Stacked Silicon-Germanium System: a Simulation Study. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 33(12), 2342–2351 (2014).Mok, G. S. P., Wang, Y. & Tsui, B. M. W. Quantification of the Multiplexing Effects in Multi-Pinhole Small Animal SPECT: A Simulation Study. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci. 56(5), 2636–2643 (2009).Vunckx, K., Suetens, P. & Nuyts, J. Effect of Overlapping Projections on Reconstruction Image Quality in Multipinhole SPECT. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. 27(7) (2008).Ivashchenko, O. et al. Quarter-Millimeter-Resolution Molecular Mouse Imaging with U-SPECT+. Mol Imaging. 2014. 13 (2014).Gal, O. et al. Development of a portable gamma camera with coded apertura. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Phys. Res. A. 563, 233–237 (2006).Accorsi, R., Gasparini, F. & Lanza, R. C. A Coded Aperture for High-Resolution Nuclear Medicine Planar Imaging With a Conventional Anger Camera: Experimental Results. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 48, 2411–2417 (2001).Fuji, H. et al. Optimization of Coded Aperture Radioscintigraphy for Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping. Mol. Imaging Biol. 14, 173–182 (2012).Accorsi, R., Gasparini, F. & Lanza, R. C. Optimal coded aperture patterns for improved SNR in nuclear medicine imaging. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A. 474, 273–284 (2001).Lee, T. & Lee, W. Portable Active Collimation Imager Using URA Patterned Scintillator. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 61, 654–662 (2014).Lee, T. & Lee, W. A cubic gamma camera with an active collimator. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 90, 102–108 (2014).Accorsi, R. & Lanza, R. C. Near-field artifact reduction in coded aperture imaging. Appl. Opt. 40, 4697–4705 (2001).Ilisie, V., Sánchez, F., González, A. J. & Benlloch, J. M. Dispositivo Para la Detección de Rayos Gamma con Tabiques Activos (Device for Gamma Ray Detection with Active Septa), Patent application Ref. P201831058/PT-018004.González, A. J. et al. Detector block based on arrays of 144 SiPMs and monolithic scintillators: A performance study. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A. 787, 42–45 (2015).Pani, R. et al. Preliminary evaluation of a monolithic detector module for integrated PET/MRI scanner with high spatial resolution. JINST. 10, C06006 (2015).Pani, R. et al. Continuous DOI determination by Gaussian modelling of linear and non-linear scintillation light distributions. Proc. IEEE NSS-MIC. 3386–3389 (2011).Shepp, L. A. & Vardi, Y. Maximum likelihood reconstruction for emission tomography. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. 2, 113 (1982).Hudson, H. M. & Larkin, R. S. Accelerated Image Reconstruction Using Ordered Subsets of projection Data. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. 13, 601 (1994).Reader, A. J. et al. Accelerated list-mode EM algorithm. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 49, 42 (2002).Rahmim, A., Ruth, T. & Sossi, V. Study of a convergent subsetized list-mode EM reconstruction algorithm. FILTR SEP. 6. 3978–3982. 6, 10.1109 (2004).Siddon, R. L. Fast calculation of the exact radiological path for a three-dimensional CT array. Medical Physics. 12, 252 (1985).Sundermann, E., Jacobs, F., Christiaens, M., De Sutter, B. & Lemahieu, I. A Fast Algorithm to Calculate the Exact Radiological Path Through a Pixel Or Voxel Space. Journal of Computing and Information Technology. 6 (1998).Reader, A. J. et al. One-pass list-mode EM algorithm for high-resolution 3-D PET image reconstruction into large arrays. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. 49(3), 693–699 (2002).Agostinelli, S. et al. Geant4 - a simulation toolkit. 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Food-Based Dietary Guidelines around the World: A Comparative Analysis to Update AESAN Scientific Committee Dietary Recommendations

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) include dietary recommendations based on food groups according to the general and accepted nutrition principles and current scientific evidence. Adoption of FBDG contributes to the prevention of malnutrition in all its forms, promotes human health, and reduces environmental impact. The present review aims to perform an international comparative analysis of the FBDG adopted in different countries from three different continents (America, Asia, and Europe), with particular reference to the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN, Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición) Scientific Committee dietary recommendations. A total of twelve countries with the most updated FBDG and/or closest to the traditional and cultural preferences of Spain were finally selected. All the reviewed FBDG provided recommendations for fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts, milk and dairy products, meat and derivatives, fish, eggs, water, and oil; however, remarkable differences regarding recommended amounts were found among countries